Returned medicines in Outpatient Department [OPD], Seberang Jaya Hospital, Pulau Pinang

Drug is any substances that affect the structure or functioning of a living organism. Drugs are widely used for the preventions, diagnosis and the treatment of disease and for the relief of the symptoms. Seberang Jaya Hospital. Drug List is an abstract from Ministry of Health Drug Formulary that contains a list of drugs approved for use in all hospitals/institutions in the Ministry of Health and available in Seberang Jaya Hospital.
The formulary 1s prepared to promote rational, cost-effective use of drugs whereby newer and effective drugs were introduced in a controlled manner so as to minimize wastages and funds set aside for purchase of drugs are optimally used.
Drugs in the list are classified according to WHO ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical) classification system. Drugs are divided into different groups according to organ or system on which they act and their chemical, pharmacological and therapeutic use of the main active ingredients, on the basic principle of only one A TC code for each pharmaceutical formulation.
The drugs were given to the patients via two department of pharmacy system in Seberang Jaya Hospital; through ward supply (in-patient department) and out-patient department.
The reasons patients return unused drug have been explored. The study focus on patient's explanation for returning medication: being categorized as, excessive supply, expired medicines, changes in patient's circumstance or the repeat medicine policy at the surgery and patient's death.
Because of that, we decide to study about the drug return in Outpatient Pharmacy Department of Seberang Jaya Hospital since the programmed of returning back unwanted/unused drugs was just started in the end of last year; 2009.