Is a foreign prescription valid in Switzerland?

Switzerland's own form for narcotics

Switzerland sorts controlled substances into binding lists, the Verzeichnisse of the Narcotics Lists Ordinance (BetmVV-EDI). Substances of Verzeichnisse a and d must be prescribed on the official narcotics prescription (Betäubungsmittelrezept); a simple prescription is enough only for Verzeichnisse b and c (Art. 46 para. 2 and 3 BetmKV). Cannabis for medical purposes is listed in Verzeichnis a, so cannabis medicines with a total THC content of at least 1.0 percent are prescribed on this form (Annex 2 BetmVV-EDI; Art. 46 para. 2 BetmKV).

Swissmedic supplies the official forms to the cantons, which pass them on to the physicians entitled to prescribe (Art. 47 para. 5 BetmKV). The forms are numbered consecutively and carry a barcode, so that pharmacies can check whether a form is valid or blocked (Swissmedic notice of 8 November 2017). According to the cantonal pharmacists, pads are issued only to physicians with a valid licence to practise and activity in the canton (KAV position paper 0025).

Who may prescribe here

Physicians who practise under their own professional responsibility within the meaning of the Medical Professions Act may prescribe narcotics; physicians who do not may prescribe only within their employment and under the supervision of an authorised colleague (Art. 10 para. 1 BetmG; Art. 45 BetmKV). Practising under one's own professional responsibility requires a licence from the canton in whose territory the profession is practised (Art. 34 para. 1 MedBG).

Entering Switzerland with your own medicine

The ordinance has its own rules for travellers under treatment (Art. 41 para. 1, 1bis and 2 BetmKV):

• They may bring medicines with controlled substances into Switzerland without an import permit, in the quantity needed for at most 30 days of treatment, provided the medicines contain no substance of Verzeichnis d.
• Travellers from Schengen states need a certificate according to Annex 2 BetmKV for this.
• If the stay lasts longer than 30 days, the medicines must be prescribed by a physician licensed to practise in Switzerland.

The certificate for Schengen states is the ‘certificate for carrying narcotics in the context of medical treatment’ under Article 75 of the Schengen Implementing Convention; see Schengen certificate. Swissmedic also states that importing medicines for other people is not allowed. More in our article on travelling with prescribed medication.

Moving or staying longer

For stays of more than 30 days, the rule above applies: the medicines must be prescribed by a physician licensed to practise in Switzerland (Art. 41 para. 2 BetmKV). Our article Moving to Switzerland with an existing treatment deals with this situation.

Our physician Oxana Smagulova is licensed in Switzerland. An existing treatment abroad does not replace the medical assessment: whether treatment is an option is decided individually by the physician during the consultation. There is no entitlement to a prescription; the physician decides on the basis of the medical assessment. For visitors, see consultations for visitors without Swiss residence.