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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Discarded medical supplies
could be donated if usableQuestion: I see large quantities of medical supplies, medicine samples and informational pamphlets, brochures and videos being tossed by pharmaceutical representatives in my building. The goods are in their original boxes. What can be done with them if they are not past their expiration dates? I found a whole case of syringes still in their wrappers, in their boxes and in the delivery carton they came in. That has to be against the law.
Answer: It turned out that the syringes were injectors and "not actual syringes," according to John Fleming, of the state Department of Health's Food and Drug Branch, who examined the case you turned in.
"They're actually being disposed of in a manner that we would expect them to," he said.
In a case like this, however, the concern is whether the injectors are still viable for sale or use.
From what he could see, Fleming said the dates appeared current and the packaging seemed intact.
He could not discern "their actual status" -- whether they had been discontinued for use -- but said he would check with hospitals to see if they were still usable.
There is no problem in tracking down the representative to get more information, he said, noting that that person's name was on the packages.
As for all the items being tossed, Fleming said his office is aware that a number of pharmaceutical representatives do use your building as a storage place.
"We are interested in what ends up in those trash bins," he said.
Regarding the other samples being thrown out, Fleming said he suspects most of those have expired dates "because the reps have to track their products right down to the lot number."
If not, "then it's a big question for us because, then, obviously they could be diverted and end up in the supply chain somehow or just being abused, so we have concerns about that," he said.
Fleming said his office will put out a notice to the pharmaceutical representatives to "remind them they have to use adequate disposal means" when they are disposing of their products.
Also, "if they have products that are still viable, not expired and under their control, they can donate it to the Medicine Bank," he said.
Anyone with questions about such products or their disposal can contact the state Food and Drug Branch at 586-4725.
Q: Do you know where I could obtain the records for Cannon's International Business College? I attended there in 1986 and it is my understanding the school has closed but records are still obtainable. The big mystery is where. I need those records as I am now attending school in North Carolina with a scholarship. My school is requesting the records or I lose my scholarship. I have e-mailed the Board of Education with no reply whatsoever. I have also e-mailed and called several other places but no one seems to know where these records are kept.
A: Contact Heald College, which took over Cannon's (formerly Honolulu Business College) in 1993.
Call (8080 955-1500. You should provide the name you registered with at Cannon's, the years you attended, and your Social Security number. You will be charged $5 for each copy of the transcript.
You can send a check, made out to Heald College, with the information required, to Heald College, Attention: Registrar, 1500 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 201, Honolulu, HI 96814.
You may ask that the transcript be mailed directly to the college.
Missing An IRS Refund?
More than 1,000 Hawaii taxpayers have a total of $626,300 in federal income tax refunds or advance child tax credit checks waiting for them.That's an average of $586 per check.
The Internal Revenue Service says refund or credit checks of 1,028 Hawaii taxpayers were returned to the agency undelivered. Taxpayers need to update their addresses with the IRS before it can reissue the checks.
Addresses must be updated by Dec. 5 for taxpayers awaiting the child tax credit checks. But even if they miss that deadline, they can simply claim the credit when they complete their 2003 tax returns, according to the IRS.
Taxpayers can track both their refund and their child tax credit checks by going to the IRS Web site: IRS.gov.
Those without access to the Internet should first check their records or contact their tax preparer before calling the IRS toll-free assistance line at (800) 829-1040 to update their address, the IRS said.
Taxpayers who have moved since filing their last tax return can make sure the IRS has their right addresses by filing Form 8822, Change of Address. The form can be downloaded from the IRS Web site or requested by calling (800) TAX-FORM (829-3676).
The IRS says taxpayers have the option of having refunds deposited directly into a personal checking or savings account, thereby avoiding any problems with undelivered, lost or stolen refund checks.
The option is available on both paper returns and electronically filed returns.
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Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com
