Donate medicines

Patients do not take the medicines prescribed for them for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes people are discharged from hospital with a bag of medicines to take home just in case they suffer certain symptoms – for example they may be given some extra-strong painkillers in case they suffer severe pain after an operation.

Sometimes a medicine doesn't suit the patient and they go back to their doctor to get something different. Sometimes the patient gets better and doesn't need the medicine after all, and sometimes sadly the patient dies. Members of the public can return their unwanted medicines to their GP once their GP is registered with us. Inter Care then collects the medicines from the GP, and our trustworthy volunteer team of healthcare professionals check and sort the medicines before we ship them to clinics in Africa. Please make sure that the medicines donated are on the list we accept and have at least 15 months to expiry date or we have to pay for them to be destroyed.

GP's and other health professionals can register to collect returned medicines and other surgical items by downloading our Healthcare Professionals Information Pack which includes registration forms, details of our collection service, a list of the medical items and surgical items we can accept and posters asking patients to bring in their surplus medicines. Members of the public wishing to donate their unwanted medicines can return them to their own GP if they are registered with us. If they are not registered with Inter Care, then please download a copy of the Healthcare Professionals pack and drop it in to them, so they can sign up. Unwanted medicines can also be posted directly to Inter Care, 46 The Halfcroft, Syston Leicester LE7 1LD.