[Pharmwaste] drug samples

Tue Nov 4 15:11:20 EST 2008

is this string being shared with our brethren with practice greenhealth
(H2E)?  The pharmwaste and H2E listserves probably have mostly the same
subscribers but, was just wondering if the H2E group had input to these
ideas.

allen g
adeq state pretreatment type guy 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Catherine
Zimmer
	Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:38 AM
	To: Megan Fakih
	Cc: Jennifer Jackson; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
	Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] drug samples

	Hi All,
	A couple of suggestions regarding sample policy:

	1.	Make sure reps sign in. 
	2.	Prohibit short dated samples, e.g. those with expiration
of less than one year. 
	3.	Only accept samples that are used.  Our MNTAP study
identified the top ten used in five smaller MN clinics, see
http://mntap.umn.edu/health/CAHS.html 
	4.	Use a voucher system. 

	Catherine Zimmer
	Health Care Specialist

	Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
	University of Minnesota
	612.624.4635, 800.247.0015
	http://www.mntap.umn.edu

	Helping Minnesota businesses maximize resource efficiency,
increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and prevent pollution

	Megan Fakih wrote: 

		My guess is the drug companies haven't done anything to
facilitate the
		take back of expired samples and therefore, their reps
don't know
		a thing about it.  The education on the subject is
lacking.  That is
		why I was curious if anyone had sent their samples back
to the
		manufacturer for destruction.  
		We are a large hospital in our region and feel that we
could make the
		reps take the samples back as a part of our hospital
policy.  I want
		this to be a collaboration between the hospital and the
drug reps so we
		don't drive them away.  With the current economy the
samples are nice
		for patients that need them and the physician practices
won't consider
		not stocking samples for this reason.  
		I will keep you posted as we proceed forward with this
"project". 

		Megan Fakih, RPh, MBA
		St Lawrence Campus
		Pharmacy Supervisor
		1210 W Saginaw St
		Lansing, Mi 48915
		Phone: (517) 364-6341

				"Jackson, Jennifer" <jacksonj at ebmud.com>
<mailto:jacksonj at ebmud.com>  10/30/2008 12:35 PM >>>

		I'd suggest requesting from them the citation that their
taking back
		the
		drugs is against the law. As far as I know, the only
difficulty they
		would have is with taking back controlled substances.
I'm guessing
		that
		it's rare that a controlled substance is given out as a
sample, due to
		inventorying that would be required.

		Jen Jackson  |  Resource Recovery & Pollution Prevention
Programs |
		East Bay Municipal Utility District  |  510.287.0818 |
		jacksonj at ebmud.com  

		-----Original Message-----
		From: Megan Fakih [mailto:Megan.Fakih at SPARROW.ORG] 
		Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 9:54 AM
		To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us 
		Subject: [Pharmwaste] Drug sample waste

		I work for a large hospital that has many family
practice sites that
		accept drug samples.  We have tried several tactics to
cut down on
		sample waste, like encouraging the offices to accept
only the amount
		they can use, rotating stock, etc. but we still have
waste.
		I have educated the offices on the FDA's Prescription
Drug Marketing
		Act
		that allows the drug reps to facilitate the shipment of
the samples
		back
		to the drug company for destruction.  Now as they talk
to the reps
		about
		this, the reps are still saying it is against the law
for them to
		deal with the samples.    I am wondering if anyone has
successfully
		gotten these drug companies to destroy their own
samples.  I realize I
		am probably forging new ground here but from a
pharmacist perspective,
		I
		would like to see samples go away and vouchers that can
be redeemed at
		the pharmacy take their place.  By forcing the drug
companies to
		destroy
		these unused samples I feel we might be able to persuade
the drug
		companies to turn to vouchers. 

		Does anyone have any advice for me? 

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