Medicine Ministry
MEDICINE MINISTRY
ORDERING MEDICINE PROCEDURES:
1. Monthly “BEST BUY MEDICINE”
MOM informs our Partner churches the first week of each month about the “Best Buy Medicines” recommended by our National Medicine Coordinator, Mrs. June Lee.
2. Purchasing Medicine (minimum handling charge or free of charge)
a) MOM assists Mission Teams from our Partner churches in procuring medicine and medical supplies at discounted prices or sometimes for free. We network with medical agencies and charitable organization to assist these Teams with their medical needs. Missionaries may also receive this medicine benefit through their supporting churches, if they are Partner churches with M.O.M.
b) About ‘Expired Dates’
Bringing expired medicines to the mission field can cause problems. However, many medical journals affirm that the efficacy of the medicine is almost the same after five (5) years from the expired date IF it has been stored in proper humidity conditions.
Assertions about Medicine Efficacy:* DRUG & THERAPEUTICS VOL 44 (W1142B)* J OF PHARMACEUTICALS VOL 95 NO7, JULY 2006 (SLEP PROGRAM)* FDA/cfsan—www.cfsan.fda.gov/dms/qa-ind7c.html.* AMA (CSAPH)—WWW.AMA-ASSN.ORG/13652html* JOHNS HOPKINS:JOHOSHOPKINSHEALTHALERTS.COMMore than 200 medical journals mention the efficacy of short dated medicine.MOM uses short dated medicine for mission trips for the following reason:1) Short dated medicine has the same efficacy as medicine under the expiry date.2) Short dated medicine is inexpensive.3) The medicine volume can be minimized by packing in zip-lock bags.4) Medicines in their original bottles are easy to be re-sold on the black market.5) Discarded medicine can be used effectively. (John 6:12)6) Repacked medicine saves time once you get to the mission field. Repacked medicine for an individual patient would be about 15 tablets per bag (3x4 zip lock bag). It’s important that repacked medicine is dispensed in small quantities because often the local people on the mission field think they will get better if they take all the medicine at once.7) A note with John 3:16 in the local language can be inserted in a repacked zip-lock bag as a good evangelism tool.
c) Free Medicine
MOM serves as a bridge between Medical Mission Teams and KC to procure free and purchased medicine. (A medical doctor must be accompanying the Mission Team to request from KC.) Also, when MOM receives Bulk Medicine donations, we distribute these to our Partner churches through our Regional MOM Offices and/or Regional Medicine Coordinators (RMC).
3. Shipping Medicines to the Mission Field
a) MOM is helping medical missionaries in purchasing generic medicine from Europe or South Africa, which saves on costly shipping expenses from the U.S.
b) Medical Missions Agencies That Ship Overseas
The following medical mission organizations provide medicine at excellent prices and will also ship the medicine directly to the mission field:
1. MAP International (European generic medicine, headquarters in the States)2. I.D.A. (India, headquarters in the Netherlands)3. A.M.F.A. (South Africa)4. Blessings International (headquarters in the States)5. CLI (headquarters in the States, ships from the States)6. GCH7. URX
4. Packing & Custom Clearance Tips
MOM provides tips on repacking medicines so that medical teams pass successfully through the customs gate of countries outside the USA.
Contact: Mrs. June LeeCollege of Pharmacy (BA)MBA, BS, MT (ASCP)Manager, Quest Diagnostics Inc.MOM National Medicine CoordinatorPhone: (630)222-1826Email: messmercy@gmail.com