MOH Guidelines for Receiving Donations
Guidelines for the donation of Pharmaceuticals
- The list of pharmaceuticals should be submitted to the Pharmaceutical and the Regulatory Affairs Department; at least twenty-one (21) days, prior to shipment by the donor, to determine the suitability of the donation for public use.
- The appropriate drug importation permit should be obtained from the Pharmaceutical and the Regulatory Affairs Department prior to arrival of the donation at the port of entry. There is a twenty-four (24) hour turn-around-time for approval of the permit application.
- The donations should bear an expiry date of at least twelve (12) months after landed date.
- The brand or generic equivalent of a donation (drug) should be registered for use in Jamaica except where the drug is to be administered in emergency procedures e.g. invasive cardiovascular or cerebral interventions.
- The Standards and Regulation Division reserves the right to detain/seize or cause to be re-exported, pharmaceuticals and other related products imported contrary to the guidelines. Failure to comply with the guidelines is a breach of the FOOD AND DRUGS ACT 1964, and FOOD AND DRUG REGULATIONS ACT 1975.
Breaches of the CUSTOMS ACT1941, may result in the imposition of fines as deemed appropriate in keeping with that act.
Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Affairs Department
Ministry of Health
June 2004