Who Gets Our Left Overs?

[bobnurse]

Is it true that our drugs dont really expire at the printed expiration date? That they are repackaged and sent to mexico and africa? Is that why they are so cheap?

I was in mexico a few years ago and went into a small hospital there and was amazed at their supplies and procedures.

Nurses wore dresses and nursing hats. They used metal bedpans, glass urinals, glass syringes and autoclaved needles. There sheets and blankets were our military issue that we sent there. I told the female nurse that i was a nurse and she couldnt believe it (male).

Anyone else have any other stories?

[mydesygn]

Is it true that our drugs dont really expire at the printed expiration date? That they are repackaged and sent to mexico and africa? Is that why they are so cheap?

I was in mexico a few years ago and went into a small hospital there and was amazed at their supplies and procedures.

Nurses wore dresses and nursing hats. They used metal bedpans, glass urinals, glass syringes and autoclaved needles. There sheets and blankets were our military issue that we sent there. I told the female nurse that i was a nurse and she couldnt believe it (male).

Anyone else have any other stories?

I once was on a cruise ship and had a conversation with the ship's physician who was from South Africa. He mentioned that the most drugs are labeled so they are good for 2 years post expiration date. He stated they frequently received and used medications that were post - expiration date

[SusanJean]

Is it true that our drugs dont really expire at the printed expiration date? That they are repackaged and sent to mexico and africa? Is that why they are so cheap?

I was in mexico a few years ago and went into a small hospital there and was amazed at their supplies and procedures.

Nurses wore dresses and nursing hats. They used metal bedpans, glass urinals, glass syringes and autoclaved needles. There sheets and blankets were our military issue that we sent there. I told the female nurse that i was a nurse and she couldnt believe it (male).

Anyone else have any other stories?

Companies will charge what the market will allow - that is why we pay so much for drugs and other counties so little.

I do know of doctors that use out-of-date samples in their work overseas, (not too out-of-date, used in a timely fashion) but have not heard of any legit repackaging of drugs by pharmaceutical companies for resale.

Once out of date drugs are returned, the must be destroyed. There is not way to insure the integrety of the product otherwise (temp of storage, that it has not been tampered with, etc.)

The out-dating for the drug depends on the drug and how it was stored. Some drugs loose efficacy over time, some turn into more toxic compounds. There is a window of safety after the expiration date, kind of like with milk or eggs, but you need to know the compound and the history of it.

[bobnurse]

I know for a fact that a physican who went to africa for a month for his church to provide medical care had access to expired medications. This church purchased a bus and converted it into a mobile clinic. He recieved expired medications from several drug companies and prescribed them overseas. So they are not getting destroyed.