1. PURPOSE
1.1 1.1 To serve as a guide for doctors, registered nurses (RNs) and pharmacists when receiving donated medications from residents, residents’ families, members of public or other healthcare institutions.
1.2 To ensure donated medications are fit for reuse for residents.
2. SCOPE
2.1 Guidelines issued by Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore (PSS) serves as a guide for ILTC facilities to assess donated medications for use. The ILTC facility licence holder is still liable for the process and administration of medications to residents in their facilities.
2.2 Pharmacists/RNs at the ILTC facility will be responsible for the use of the donated medications in the facility.
2.3 Includes all medications (excludes traditional chinese medicines (TCM) and over the counter (OTC) medications) donated by members of the public/residents/residents’ families/healthcare care institutions to an ILTC facility.
3. PROCEDURES
3.1 Prior to accepting the donation, Pharmacists/RNs at the recipient facility have to ensure donated medications are fit for residents’ use as per checklist in Appendix 1.
3.2 Donated medications must be identifiable ie generic name and strength of medications have to be printed clearly on the bottles or blister strips. Labelling must be in English.
3.3 The expiry of donated medications is clearly indicated and within expiry.
3.4 Donated medications should be in good condition ie not leaking, foul smelling or discoloured.
3.5 Donated medications should be stored separately from the facility’s own stocks.
3.6 Facility should have a process in place on using donated medication stocks.
3.7 Workflow for accepting donated medications can be found in Appendix 2.
If any of the above are not met, please do not accept the donation.[Points 1 to 4 and 6 needs to be “Yes” & Point 5 needs to be “No” – but refer to 2 information below].
*Please note: List is not exhaustive – if in doubt, do not use.
Item can be checked via HSA website if registered: www.hsa.gov.sg/e-services/infosearch
Institutions with protocols in place for receiving controlled drugs may receive the donated medications.
