Unused Medicine Donations in Australia and Overseas
If you’re like most people, you’ll have a box somewhere in the house full of medicines, some used more frequently than others, and some you might have never touched. Either way, it’s possible that if you’ve ever had an excess of any kind of medicine at home, it’s crossed your mind that it would be […]
Taking Medicine, Storing Medicine and Disposing of Medicine
Medicine is a part of life for many Australians, whether it’s through ongoing prescriptions, once-off treatments, or occasional pain management. We’ve put together this simple guide to help you cover the three most important aspects of taking medicine. How do I ensure I’m taking medicine safely? Once you’ve been prescribed a new medicine, there are […]
Why Unwanted Medicine Shouldn’t be Donated
A common question that arises is why unwanted or expired medicine isn’t donated to developing or third-world countries. The World Health Organisation has developed a set of guidelines that must be met before donations can be sent overseas, including: Correct packaging and labelling Quality assurance and shelf life Information and management Selection of drugs In […]
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Rum Bins
When will the new RUM bins be available? The new one-way entry yellow RUM bin will be available in all wholesalers (API, CH2, National Pharmacy Distributors, Sigma, Symbion) from April 2020. How do I order the new RUM bins? The new RUM bin will be ordered directly from your preferred wholesaler. How do I fix […]
Notice for Pharmacists: Bins Not to Leave the Pharmacy
There have been some reports of RUM bins leaving local pharmacies to be shared with GPs, aged care facilities or veterinary clinics. We remind all pharmacists that the Return of Unwanted Medicines Project supports local community pharmacies only, and to keep your RUM bin within your own pharmacy. This is essential to ensure the viability […]
Current shortage of RUM bins for community pharmacy
Currently the RUM Project is experiencing difficulties in supplying RUM bins to all of the wholesalers for distribution to community pharmacies and we don’t anticipate that any RUM bins will be available at your wholesaler until later in November. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and are working hard to have the RUM bins available […]
Why are unwanted drugs not donated to developing countries?
Unwanted medicines being sent to a developing country or in disaster situations is often thought to be a useful way to provide much needed supplies, but past experiences have shown this not to be a great solution. Unfortunately not all medicine donations are helpful, and inappropriate medicine donations can be dangerous or useless, and are […]
What do you do with your unwanted medicine?
Have you ever opened your medicines cabinet and discovered medicines there that you’ve no idea why you had them or perhaps they are expired (i.e. past the use by date)? Most people at some time have done this and then wondered what to do with these unwanted medicines. There is a safe and simple solution […]
What the introduction of the Pain MedsCheck trial means for you
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on the 25th of January that a new trial, named Pain Medscheck, will be introduced and will assist patients taking medication to deal with long term chronic pain. This new program will allow for community pharmacists to evaluate and review a patient’s medicine to ensure that adequate pain management […]
What to do if you are worried about the protection of your privacy
Many people are concerned about their privacy when it comes to medicines and where their information is stored. One of the most common questions Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) receives is “will my privacy be protected?” The answer is to that is yes. As part of their job requirement, pharmacists are required to preserve the confidentiality […]
Why are unwanted drugs not donated to developing countries?
Unwanted medicines being sent to a developing country or in disaster situations is often thought to be a useful way to provide much needed supplies but past experiences have shown this not to be a great solution. Unfortunately not all medicine donations are helpful and inappropriate medicine donations can be dangerous or useless and then […]
Three Facts About Expired Medicines
We are all guilty of keeping expired and unwanted medicines in our cupboards and drawers around the home from time to time. Sometimes we keep medicines because we think we may need them in the future or because they were expensive. Alternatively, we may still have old medicines because we simply forgot they were still […]
Your Medicines and the Environment
How do you usually dispose of your medicines? Do you throw them out with the regular household garbage, or perhaps you flush them down the toilet? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. A recent study* conducted by Return Unwanted Medicines and Griffith University revealed that most people (67%) said they disposed of their unwanted […]