Social Innovation: Medicine Return Box (Medical and Health Care Issues)

The social innovation idea that I wanted to propose is called Medicine Return Box. This ideas emerge after seeing lots of people in my village is simply throwing away their unfinished, expired or unused prescribe medicine that they got from the hospital or clinic. In my personal opinion, I think due to their academic qualifications, they did not know or aware on how to safely dispose or discard their medicine correctly instead of just go into the dust bin. Due to this scenarios, the idea of creating a way for the villagers to return back their unused or unfinished medicine was came out.

The first steps is to design and build a suitable box. The dimension of this box would copy the dimension of the normal letter box. This size is suitable because it is not too big and too small. However, the opening slot will be located on the top of the box with a drawer like slot. This can helps all kind of medicine like size and shape of the container can be put in boxes. The box will be quip with locks to avoid all the medicine taken by others. Only the person responsible collecting the medicine will have the keys to open the box. 

The second steps is to identify the suitable locations to put all the boxes. In my village, the placed that I wanted to place is first at the mosque, second in the guard post at the secondary school and third is at our Felda’s office. All of these places is very suitable and strategic because it is the most places that all the people go and also the most easy to get to. The location of the box at this three places also will be place at the very front of the building to make it easier for people to get to. 

Third steps is to appoint a representative or person to do the collection on the weekly basis. The person that I would like to appoint is the one that working at the place where the boxes is located. This is because, it is more convenient for them and they can monitor if the box contain the any return medicine during that week. They only need to check it weekly and helps returning back all the medicine to the clinic in my village. They will be a recognition and certificate for each of the person that helps in this project.

The last steps is to spread the information of the medicine return box. I will used all the social media as one of the ways in spreading the use of this box and how they can benefits this box. Besides that, the older ways also will be use which is through announcement during the Friday Prayers, spreading through WhatsApps groups and other platform. 

Source: Protective Cases