Medications Worth Millions Discarded Annually in Israel Despite Reuse Laws
Over 700 million shekels worth of medications are discarded annually in Israel while patients struggle to afford treatments, highlighting regulatory gaps between HMO collection bins and NGOs.
Every year in Israel, medications worth over 700 million shekels are thrown in the trash, despite a law enacted more than a decade ago that allows for the reuse of a large portion of them for patients who cannot afford them. Currently, there are two main ways to return medications in the country: through the collection bins of the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or through the collection bins of the 'Haverim L'Refuah' association, located in major institutions and 'Super-Pharm' branches.
The Absurdity of Destruction
Surplus medications that are sealed, in good condition, and not expired, when handed over to the HMOs, automatically go to destruction. Conversely, those delivered to the bins of 'Haverim L'Refuah' reach families whose financial situation prevents them from purchasing them. This absurd situation occurs even though the state regulated the activities of 'Haverim L'Refuah' by law in 2016, aiming precisely to connect people who purchased medications and did not use them with patients who need them.
'There are five health funds in Israel,' says Baruch Lieberman, CEO of 'Haverim L'Refuah'. 'There are the four HMOs—and there is us. We are Israel's pharmaceutical security. It doesn't matter if a person needs a medication that costs 10 shekels or 14 million shekels—we must do everything so that they live.'
The Sorting Dilemma and Supply Chain
The association operates a sorting and distribution center functioning as a pharmacy with volunteer pharmacists ensuring safety and compliance with Ministry of Health regulations. However, the gap lies within the definition of the pharmaceutical supply chain. While the Ministry of Health tightly controls supply from factory to pharmacy, returned drugs present challenges regarding storage and quality control, leading policymakers to view secondary distribution as niche rather than a primary channel.
