E-DRUG: Threats posed by stockpiles of expired pharmaceuticals in low- and middle-income countries: a Ugandan perspective (3)
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To answer Richard's question, the problem of inappropriate donations has
certainly not gone away. I don't know about published evidence, but in one
hospital here in Malawi, over an 8 month period, we had $122,000 of donated
drugs expire unused, compared to $7,000 of drugs purchased from normal
sources. Further information is in a paper to be submitted for publication
by Kohei Shiota which will deal with a simple and affordable method to
reduce such losses regardless of the purchasing source.
Best wishes
David
Dr David Scott, Pharmacy Department, Private Bag 360, College of Medicine,
University of Malawi, Blantyre.
dscott@medcol.mw