March 14, 2008
Q: I have a real problem with the pharmacy giving out expired birth control pills. On Feb. 12, I was issued birth control pills that expired in October 2006. I had been warned to check the expiration dates before and it has never been an issue until today. I am appalled that something like birth control is issued when expired. There is no excuse for this oversight. We put our faith and trust into the health care system provided to us while overseas and this is no way to reassure me that we are in good hands. Please make sure this never happens again. As a warning to all females and patients receiving medication, please check the expiration date, because this is not the first time and may not be the last time this occurs.

A: Thank you for the inquiry regarding the expiration dates on pharmaceuticals dispensed at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. After receiving this inquiry, all birth control medications were rechecked for proper expiration dates; and, none were expired. The confusion may be a result of the way the numbers on the packaging are being read. The expiration date on these particular packages is “06/10.” The expiration date for medications produced in the U.S. is read from left to right, month and then year, so the expiration date for this product is June 2010, not Oct. 2006. As with any medication in the pharmacy, checking expiration dates is a part of the quality management process, and is taken very seriously. We encourage all patients to double-check the expiration dates on their prescriptions, and speak with the pharmacist if you have a concern. Bring the product back to the pharmacy, and speak directly to a pharmacist, so that we can verify the date and clear up the situation. We apologize for any confusion that this may have caused.