e-Profile Login and ID Quick Search
Delaware News: Medications Returned to the Pharmacy
Published in the March 2007 Delaware State Board of Pharmacy News
The Board frequently receives questions from pharmacists wanting to know if dispensed medications may be returned to the pharmacy by a patient or family member. Once dispensed medications have left the pharmacy with the patient or caregiver, they may not be returned and dispensed to anyone else unless the situation falls under an exception to the rule. Pharmacists should be aware of Regulation 5, which addresses this issue and reads as follows:
5.11 Return of Medications and Supply
5.11.1 Prescriptions and items of personal hygiene shall not be accepted for return or exchange by any pharmacist or pharmacy after such prescription or items of personal hygiene have been taken from the premises where sold, distributed or dispensed.
5.11.2 Products under the direct control of a health care professional which are packaged in manufacturer unit dose or tamper-proof unopened bulk containers, tamper proof seal in tact, including unused multi-dose punch cards, may be redispensed in accordance with expiration dating in customized patient medication package. Partially used products may not be redispensed.
As noted above, with the exception of unit dose or tamper-proof unopened bulk containers under the direct control of a health care professional, medications dispensed to a patient may not be returned for reuse under any other circumstances. Once the medication leaves the pharmacy and is in the hands of the patient or caregiver, there is no control over the storage or security of the drug. Patients and caregivers may not always store the medications within the temperature and humidity standards recommended by state and federal authorities. Similarly, tampering might occur once medications leave the pharmacy. Regulation 5.11 protects the public from deterioration and product tampering.
The regulation above does not address the issue of money. Since the Board has no jurisdiction over a pharmacy’s financial transactions unless the transaction is associated with fraud, there are no requirements regarding refunds.
