Quality Medical Donations & Minimizing Drug Disposal

Anthoula RandopoulosVice President of Philanthropic InvestmentDirect Relief International

1. Bad Donations – A preventable cause and effect.

2. PQMD Drug Donation Guidelines – A prevention strategy.

3. How we can work together

Quality Medical Donations & Minimizing Drug Disposal

Mission StatementThe Partnership for Quality Medical Donationsand its members, in alliance with related organizations, is dedicated to the development, dissemination and adherence to high standards in the delivery of medical products to underserved people and disaster victims around the world.

16.0%

84.0%

Figure 6. Number of PQMD NGOs Shipping to Various Regions of the World

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

The Americas, Excluding the US

Africa

Southeast Asia

Europe

Eastern Mediteranean

Western Pacific

Former Soviet Republics

Number of PQMD NGOs

Where do the donations go?

Drug donations make up 50% of medicine in some nations.

As much as 40% of donations can be inappropriate.1

Harvard School of Public Heath Study:

Not all donations are good donations!

1 Pharmaceutical donations by the USA; An assessment of relevance and time-to-expiry, Department of Population and International Health, Harvard School of Public Health.

1. Donated drugs often are not relevant to the situation of the recipient.

2. Many donated drugs arrive unsorted and inappropriately labeled.

3. The quality of donated drugs does not always comply with standards in the donor

countries (including expired drugs, drugs returned from patients, or free samples).

4. Donor agencies sometimes ignore local administrative procedures.

5. Donated drugs may have a high declared value, based on the market value in the

donor country, leading to high customs charges for recipients.

6. Drugs may be donated in incorrect quantities, creating disposal problems.

Six problems associated with drug donations.

1. Needs Assessment2. Appropriateness of the Donation3. Quantity and Quality4. Packaging

5. Transportation6. Utilization of Human Resources7. Evaluation

PQMD Seven Components of Quality Donation Practices

1. NEEDS ASSESSMENT

•Event •Demographics•Existing health care•Human resources

•Customary modes•Location •Regulatory environment•Contacts

2. APPROPRIATENESS OF THE DONATION

•Requested

•Comparable

•Consistent

•Suitable

•Quality•Proper Storage•Generic Name•Sufficient Dating•Proper Disposal

•Special Equipment Available•Correct Language•No Donation of Returns

3. Quality and Quantity

•Clear and understandable•Reflect climatic conditions•Cold-chain labeled•Protective packing

4. PACKAGING

•Small and light•Content list/instructions/inserts•Language easily understood

•Appropriate means•Costs addressed•Clear shipping documents•Duties addressed•Clearance Status obtained

5. TRANSPORTATION

•Follow receiving country's policies. •Emergency - expeditious means•Insured. •Storage arranged•Qualified transport companies

•Assess available staffing and field conditions. •Provide generic name, the expiration date and other relevant information for the staff.•Provide name(s) of donor contacts who can respond to questions.

6. UTILIZATION OF HUMAN RESOURCES

•Evaluation plan •Ready access to recipients•Public access

7. EVALUATION

Donations should be made by/to organizations with Institutional memoryPharmacological experience Established relationship with government Established relationship with other NGOsStrong field presenceUnderstand disposal and environmental issues

In Summary……….

Working Together – ANSI/SDO

Benefits:•Provides an umbrella organization•Government/industry recognition•Voluntary, transparent and consensus driven process•Speeds up the process

Possible Standards:•Pharmaceutical donations•Pharmaceutical disposal•Medical product recycling•Data dictionary or taxonomy of terms

PQMD will become an ANSI Accredited Standards Development Organization

Working Together

Distribute: •Mission Possible Logistics Training Video•Information on proper drug donations and disposals•Joint PSA

Questions?

Visit www.pqmd.org

Contacts: Lori Warrens – Executive Director Sara Christopherson – Director of Programs and Communication