Title
Guidelines on Medicine Handling for Inmates
Law
Boc Memorandum
Decision Date
Dec 9, 1994
To address complaints of misappropriation of medicines intended for inmates, the Bureau of Corrections establishes strict guidelines for the proper handling, documentation, and dispensing of medications brought by relatives, ensuring accountability and transparency in the process.

Purpose and compliance objective

  • The Memorandum prevents medicines intended for inmate patients from being waylaid by custodial personnel or NBP Hospital employees.
  • The Memorandum prevents NBP personnel from claiming reimbursement by using official receipts for medicines bought by inmates for personal benefit.
  • The Memorandum establishes a controlled process to ensure medicines reach intended inmate recipients.
  • The Memorandum requires compliance to protect BuCor employees’ integrity and BuCor’s public image.

Visitor delivery and pharmacy deposit

  • Visitors who bring medicine for the personal use of their inmate-relatives must be accompanied by guards at control gates to the NBP Hospital Pharmacy.
  • Medicines deposited in the pharmacy must be deposited under proper receipt by the Pharmacist-on-Duty.
  • Deposited medicines must be placed in boxes labeled with:
    • the respective names of the intended users; and
    • the name/list of the medicine/s deposited.

Pharmacy handling records and withdrawals

  • Each inmate must be provided an index card (list) indicating:
    • the date of receipt and type of medicine/s received;
    • the date of withdrawal of the medicine/s; and
    • the signature of the inmate; and
    • the duration of treatment.
  • The pharmacy system must ensure medicine withdrawals are tracked through the inmate index card and withdrawal date.
  • The withdrawal process must conform to the prescription requirement imposed on dispensing.

Dispensing rule and required prescription

  • The Pharmacist-on-Duty may dispense personal medicine/s only to the concerned inmate upon prescription by an NBP Physician.
  • The prescribed medicine must be dispensed with a minimum dosage duration: dosage should be given for at least two days.
  • The dispensing limitation applies specifically to the personal medicine/s deposited by relatives.

Reimbursement of inmate-bought medicines

  • Reimbursement of medicines bought by inmates is processed subject to availability of funds.
  • Reimbursement requires the inmate to submit a personal written request.
  • The written request must be supported by official receipts.
  • Reimbursement is governed by the pharmacist/medicine-control rules through the documented request supported by receipts.

Adoption and implementation directive

  • The Memorandum is adopted on 09 Dec. 1994 and signed by ATY. VICENTE G. VINARAO (Major General PNP (Ret.), Director).
  • The Memorandum directs strict implementation of the guidelines it establishes.
  • The Memorandum provides operational instructions for guards, pharmacy deposit handling, labeling, record-keeping, dispensing control, and reimbursement processing.

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