Egyptian authorities took up arms against Russian pharmacy shuttles: medicines are three times cheaper

“Any recipe – for your baksheesh”

The Egyptian side noted that since the beginning of March, Russian tourists began to take away a large amount of medicines from their holidays. The authorities did not like this: medicines in Egypt are of high quality and, moreover, cheap only because the state subsidizes local pharmaceuticals. But not for export, but for its citizens. From now on, tourists who take more pills home from vacation than allowed, even out of ignorance, can run into not only a fine, but also a charge of smuggling.

Russians permanently residing in Egypt provide a complete list of “pharmaceutical bans” that cannot be exported in any form or quantity. It is a mistake to believe that these are all prescription drugs, there are also the most common cough and cold syrups, it’s just that in the Land of the Pharaohs they are three times cheaper.

– There are also sedatives on the list, with a note that Egyptian customs officers can put you on trial for them, – says a Russian woman living in Hurghada. It doesn’t matter if you import or export. Not to mention the preparations from which something forbidden can be made. But so far there is only a list of prohibitions, but there is no law. Therefore, while pharmacy shuttles are in profit.

“Some individuals with an entrepreneurial streak quickly “cut the chip” and set up a full-fledged business on this,” a Russian-speaking Egyptian woman shares in her blog. “And the Egyptians are stopping this business: the production of medicines is sponsored by the government for its own citizens, and not for enterprising tourists, who are expected to come to the land of the pyramids to spend money, not earn money.”

According to the author, the export limit for Egyptian medicines is 10 blisters, not packages, as some mistakenly believe. But in our consulate they say that although the topic of “pharmacy shuttle” has been raised, Egyptian legislation has not yet established clear restrictions on the transport of medicines: “The airport does not give any clear regulations. But, as you know, at the airport there may be questions to tourists about the number of medicines in their luggage. Therefore, we recommend that you purchase and carry medicines in an amount that the airport will not regard as export for commercial purposes, but only for personal use.”

– Well, how much can you take with you to Russia, say, children’s cough syrups, in order to honestly look into the eyes of the Egyptian customs?

– Assume that more than one pack of 20 tablets and more than one bottle of a drug on the Prohibited List is a violation.

And here is the advice of the “new Russian pharmacy shuttles”, which, as history shows, will always find a way and a way to get around any prohibitions:

– And along with the recipe, you can have more than one package, – they suggest. – For example, you are a group of 6 vacationers and all of you are very sick people. If everyone takes care of the recipe at home in the district clinic, then you can buy several packs per head. And if suddenly they didn’t take care, the Egyptians are very well established in issuing recipes. Here, under each palm tree, the kind doctor Aibolit sits – and any recipe for your baksheesh.