Every year, billions of dollars’ worth of medication goes unused, even as patients are forced to choose between filling their prescriptions and meeting other essential expenses. SIRUM, a nonprofit organization, helps close that gap by making it possible to donate eligible surplus medicine for patients who need it.
When surplus and need exist side by side
There is a striking imbalance in the healthcare system. Some patients have medicine they no longer need, while others cannot afford to fill an active prescription.
A change in treatment or an adverse reaction can leave someone with unopened medication. In most cases, that medicine remains unused until it expires or is thrown away.
Meanwhile, patients facing high out-of-pocket costs may postpone filling a prescription or take less medication than directed. For someone with asthma or severe allergies, losing access to treatment can restrict daily life and increase the risk of serious complications.
Medication waste can also have environmental consequences. Pharmaceutical compounds have been detected in water sources, and standard treatment processes may not remove them completely. When eligible medicine is donated instead of discarded, it can serve its original purpose: helping a patient get well.
Turning extra medicine Into access
SIRUM is a nonprofit organization working to redistribute the $11 billion in medication wasted in the United States each year. Good Samaritan drug donation laws allow eligible unopened, unexpired medicine to be collected and provided to patients through SIRUM’s community partners.
Individuals and families have already donated medications worth millions of dollars through SIRUM’s donation platform. These donations include costly specialty medications that might otherwise have gone unused.
Healthcare professionals can help by making patients aware that donation may be an option. If you or someone you know has medication that is no longer needed, visit the SIRUM website to check whether it is eligible, and for next steps on how to donate it. Post a link to SIRUM on your website and encourage patients to donate when they have unneeded medications.
Medical practices can also donate unopened pharmaceutical samples to SIRUM.
Reliable access to affordable medicine can mean fewer medical emergencies. A prescription that is surplus in one household could make that difference for someone else.
Contact SIRUM at hello@sirum.org or visit sirum.org/individuals/ to learn more.
