Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Surplus Medication topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee forwards ordinance to create surplus medication repository and distribution program overseen by DPH
Summary
Sponsoring supervisors described a program modeled on Santa Clara County that would let eligible clinics receive screened donated surplus medications for free distribution to low-income patients; DPH said existing disposal efforts collected more than 7.4 tons (14,787 pounds) of medicines and operates 47 kiosks at 46 sites.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted Sept. 26 to forward to the Board an ordinance that would amend the Health Code to establish a surplus medication repository and distribution program, to be overseen by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
Supervisor Safaie, the sponsoring supervisor, said the program was modeled on an existing Santa Clara County effort and is designed to collect surplus medications from institutions (hospices, nursing homes, senior-living centers) and route screened donations to free clinics that operate certified pharmacies. "This takes medication out of the waste stream and not polluting our oceans and water streams and our environment as well," the sponsor said.
David Woods, chief pharmacy officer for DPH, told the committee the city's Safe Med Disposal program has collected "more than 7.4 tons or 14,787 pounds" of unwanted medicines, is fully funded by the pharmaceutical industry and operates 47 medication kiosks at 46 locations. He said the proposed ordinance will allow eligible entities such as clinics with pharmacies to receive donated surplus medications and provide them for free to low-income persons.
Public commenters included Claire Howlett of SERUM (Supporting Initiatives to Redistribute Unused Medicine), Janet Riley and Scott Hauge from Clinic by the Bay, Brenda Story of Mission Neighborhood Health Center, and Sabra Matovsky of the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium; speakers described clinic patient volumes, medication needs (including inhalers and certain vaccines) and the benefits of the donation program for patients who are uninsured or experience gaps in Medicare Part D coverage. Sponsor Safaie clarified that the program does not involve opioids and described a screening and third-party intermediary step before clinics receive donations.
Vice Chair Ronan moved to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation and the committee took the motion without objection. The committee directed departments and stakeholders to work on implementation details including a formulary and operational procedures before Board consideration.
