E-DRUG: The use of expired e-drugs (cont)
-----------------------------------------
Christel
1. We have to keep the rule: no use of drugs beyond expiry date
unless there is an urgent need and no alternative, as indicated
already in Wilbert Bannenberg's comment.
In Namibia it is *ILLEGAL* to use expired drugs. (I think there is
only an exception, when the manufacturer, after further testing,
determines that the batch is still accepteable to use and takes
product resposibility).
And this is as it should be.
But most likely we are wasting a lot of valuable drugs due to the present
system of "standardised" expiry dates of generally either 3 or 5 years,
which appears rather arbitrary.
If that is the case, why don't they use the drugs on their own people?
I would very much support the idea of research into the question of
expiry dates, not so much in the sense of re-testing, but to start
with by getting a clearer idea of the criteria used in determining
individual expiry dates. Any supporters of this idea?
It is immoral to treat (indigineous) patients in third world countries
differently from those in developed countries.
Never mind that a life in these parts (eg Ruanda) seems to count much
less then one in Europe (eg former Yugoslavia).
One wonders why that is the case. Well, actually, one knows...
el
--
Dr. Eberhard W. Lisse\ / Swakopmund State Hospital
<el@lisse.NA> * | Resident Medical Officer
Private Bag 5004 \ / +264 81 1246733 (c) 64 461005(h) 461004(f)
Swakopmund, Namibia ;____/ Domain Coordinator for NA-DOM (el108)
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.