In the Malaysian public health system, the cost of medication is highly subsidised. With reference to “Return the pills” for implementing the return medication programme will cut waste at government hospitals.
Two main causes for medication wastage are irrational prescribing and patient non-adherence to the medication prescribed. In an open healthcare system like Malaysia’s, doctor-pharmacist hopping among patients also contributes to medication wastage, as there is personal overstocking of medication.
To illustrate this point, take a patient who has been hospitalised in a public hospital. Upon discharge, he will be given take-home medication and for the next follow-up, he will be referred to the nearest available public health centre, where he will be supplied with additional medication.
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