E-DRUG: Drug donations recycling
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Dear E-druggers,
It is clear that there needs to be clear guidelines, and perhaps
international monitoring, covering large scale drug donations, it would be
a pity if the 'baby was thrown out with the bathwater.' Because I
understand that small scale, 'personal' donations _are_ making a
difference for many people with AIDS, particularly in Latin America.
There are, I believe, at least two organizations based in Miami if memory
serves me right, who accept donations of AIDS drugs from people in the US,
accumulate them, and distribute them to people in the South who would
otherwise have no hope of access. Similar programs, less formally based,
have provided such drugs from Australia for people with AIDS in Asia. The
process is sometimes called 'recycling'.
The source of these donations includes left over stocks after a person has
died or changed regimen. They may also come from people who are entitled
to receive such medications under some form of welfare or insurance, but
decide for whatever reason not to use them.
I know that passing prescription drugs on to others, and particularly in
opened packages, is against the normal wisdom. But, as I say, it does make
a difference, albeit perhaps not major. I'd hate to see such humanitarian
action become outlawed as a result of justifiable responses to the main
problem of drug donations.
Chris--AIDS Activist
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Chris W. Green (chrisg@rad.net.id)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Tel: +62-21 846-3029 Fax: +62-21 846-1247
Email: chrisg@rad.net.id [added by moderator; WB]
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