Would you re-use medicines returned to the NHS?

Who checks that the pharmacy has only requested the two things that you have ordered of your repeat prescription of five?

After another “Computer says No” session with GPs surgery – with an Easter holiday, a pharmacy that is only open weekdays that delivers which takes several days more, and a carer needing to help with ordering or any other collection I suggest that pills come in standard 30 packs not 28.

It would be easier for the GP’s surgery who are refusing if something has already been ordered that month without taking into account the amount of time it takes for the prescription to be written, filled and delivered to make the right decision.

Perhaps it would be of benefit to them as well to follow up on patients as they once did for a medication review.

Most of the arguments against reuse concern medicines from people’s own homes, where storage can be less than ideal, however in nursing homes or prisons, for example they are stored correctly and unopened as in for example, morphine ampules with 3 years expiry are wasted without use, many drugs never see the patient or boxes are unopened, due to change in prescribed medication or ordered in case, it is a scandal to see these entirely usable drugs thrown away

I think it’s very dangerous to health reusing old prescription drugs, and it could be do more harm than good for low-income people specially. Let me explain why. We know that many people can’t afford prescription drugs, even though they are funded by the NHS, but prescription drugs can be only purchased at pharmacies under a prescription authorization signed by the doctor.

As many people can’t afford meds due to cut-offs at healthcare and low wages, this situation is leading the less favored people to acquire his meds outside the pharmacy. And this is a dangerous practice because those drugs purchased at unathourized sites (e.g. black market, internet, etc.) can be expired, near to expiration, in poor conditions of keeping or innaccurately storaged, with broken packages, with no labels, etc. or can be a counterfeit item, which is more dangerous. In other words, those medications lack of health and legal guarantees and they can provoke poisoning, serious health problems and even death. And the consequences would be more expensive for the NHS and it will require more expenses. And it’s better to prevent than to cure. As an Spanish idiom said: Sometimes, the cheap comes out very expensive (A veces, lo barato sale muy caro). Even though I’m not wealthy, I disagree and I discourage the idea of reusing old medications due to health reasons. For me, health is more important than money and I’m a staunch defensor of the right to healtcare. Everybody has the right to access to healthcare, with no discrimination, even the people with low income has the right to receive healthcare assistance. That’s why I stand and I support NHS. If healthcare was a full right and not a luxury, nobody should take used meds.

Furthermore, this is not only a health issue, this is also a legal issue because, according to national laws, prescription drugs can only be dispatched by authorized pharmacists presenting the appropriate medical presciption by the patient. Nobody except the pharmacist are allowed to pack off medicines outside the pharmacy without authorization. In other words, individuals cannot sell out, dispatch, barter, give away nor buy a prescription drug. In general terms and according to the law, exchanging prescription drugs between individuals is like selling cocaine and the offenders can face a lot of legal consecuences as felony charges, high fines and prison. However, for people with low income there is a lot of programs of aids, programs and subsidies carried out by diverse charities and medical and pharmaceutical associations intended to pay the meds instead of searching them out at unathourized places or by individuals.