Redistribute surplus medication to those in need
IN our ageing society, access to medication is crucial for senior citizens to maintain their health and quality of life.
However, many find themselves with surplus medication due to various reasons, leading to unnecessary wastage.
Whether it’s changing prescriptions, overbuying during a good deal or the passing of loved ones leaving behind unused medication, the reasons for excess medication are diverse and plentiful.
Unfortunately, this surplus often ends up discarded, contributing to the already staggering amount of medication waste.
Compounding this issue is the soaring cost of medicines. Some medications, for instance those for cancer treatment, due to their uniqueness or powerful effects, come with exorbitant price tags, placing a heavy financial burden on individuals and families.
Given these challenges, it’s imperative that we take action to address medication waste and accessibility.
Instead of simply discarding unexpired medications, why not make them available to financially disadvantaged Malaysians who could benefit from them?
This not only eases financial burdens but also ensures that valuable resources are utilised effectively.
The current practice of merely requesting outpatients to return excess medication to hospitals or clinics is cumbersome and costly for patients. Thus, it’s time to rethink this approach.
Could the Health Ministry and government hospitals such as University Hospital serve as centralised repositories for medication donations?
By establishing a dedicated website and utilising courier services for collection, the process could be streamlined, benefiting both donors and recipients, particularly those in the B40 category.
While the logistics of such a system require careful consideration, the core idea is clear: take steps to reduce medication waste by redistributing it to those in need.
Let’s encourage Malaysians to support each other’s health and wellbeing by implementing practical solutions including making more people aware of the existence of “Return your medicine” programme.
It is a good way to ensure medicines given away to the public will not be wasted.
Other reasons why we should return the surplus medicines to the relevant authorities include the possibility of others taking the medicine by mistake, consuming the wrong dose or wrong type of medicine due to unclear or damaged labels and the risk of children getting an overdose of medicine that can harm them or cause toxicity.
So, it’s time to unlock the value of unused medication for the greater good of our community. Let’s appreciate the value of medicine by recycling unused medication for health equity.