The Association for Drug Information in the Republic of Moldova issued a questionnaire about the use of donated drugs among 600 health care professionals. Of the respondents, 21% reported that all drugs were used completely, 35% noted that drugs went into the illegal market, and 47% said that drugs were not used owing to unskilled distribution.

The Harvard School of Public Health in Boston initiated and completed a three-country study (Armenia, Haiti and the United Republic of Tanzania) on drug donations.⁴

In the Netherlands an evaluation study revealed that the number of pharmacists giving returned drugs to small-scale charity organizations for donation purposes dropped from approximately 70% in 1995 to 25% in 1998. A qualitative study among such organizations showed more awareness about the possible negative implications of using returned drugs for donations.

DIFÄM in Germany distributed an abbreviated questionnaire on drug donations to the 500 members on its mailing list. Results are awaited.