Pilot study: patterns of Medication Return Program (MRP) in Outpatient Pharmacy at Hospital Putrajaya

This study aims to investigate the patterns of Medication Return Program (MRP) in Outpatient Pharmacy Department at Hospital Putrajaya. The objectives of this study are to determine the total number of medication returned in Outpatient Pharmacy Department and to figure out the cost saved starting from July until December 2013. Appropriate cross sectional and retrospective study has been used throughout the period of time. The result shows that the total quantity of medication returned for the whole six months is 68,218. This study also shows that a cost of RM 32,552.56 has been saved within these six months which is contributed by all 12 classes of pharmacological group which are cardiology, endocrine, rheumatology, psychotropic, vitamins and electrolytes, central nervous system (CNS), analgesics, anti-infective, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, respiratory, and lastly, ear, nose and throat (ENT). Therefore, this study suggests effective actions that should be taken by the hospital in order to increase the public awareness of Medication Return Program (MRP) as it can benefits both of the hospital and the patients themselves.