Can an American patient get a medication not approved in the U.S. from a foreign dispenser?
As a general matter, it is illegal to import an unapproved drug into the U.S. However, under FDA’s personal importation policy, FDA has authorized its inspectors to use their enforcement discretion to allow U.S. residents to import certain products under certain limited conditions. Under this policy, FDA may allow a U.S. resident to bring into this country an unapproved drug for their personal use for a serious condition, if there has been no commercialization or promotion of the drug to U.S. residents.
