Patients must bring Cooler Bag when collecting Refrigerated Medication!

Post date: Mar 08, 2017 4:3:53 AM

08th March 2017 (Circular No. SP PPUM: 93/2017):

Effective immediately, it is now mandatory for patients / caregivers to bring their own cooler bag already filled with ice packs upon collecting their supply of refrigerated (cold chain) medications!

In the interest of patient safety and for assuring effective therapy, all UMMC Pharmacy and PharmUMMC dispensaries have been instructed to withhold supply of cold chain medications if patients / caregivers do not have a cooler bag with them.

This is because refrigerated medications are highly temperature sensitive and must be kept at a temperature range of 2 to 8 °Celsius (about 36 to 46 °Fahrenheit).

Should the transportation cold chain be broken (for example, medication is unrefrigerated from the point of collection at pharmacy until it reaches patient's home), a medication may be deactivated or worse, become toxic.

Below is a list of refrigerated medications commonly supplied by UMMC Pharmacy and PharmUMMC that patients need to take note of:

Should patients be unable to obtain any form of cold storage container outside of UMMC, they may purchase a cooler bag from PharmUMMC or PharmSelatan.

Further information on keeping Refrigerated Medications below.