DAYTON — Kettering Health has launched a new oral chemotherapy drug donation program. This is the second of its kind in the Greater Dayton area and among the few that exist in Ohio.

The Kettering Health Drug Repository Program accepts any orally administered drug that is used to treat cancer or its side effects; as well as any orally administered “dangerous drug” (as defined by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy) that is used to treat the side effects of a dangerous drug used to treat cancer. Any patient that is an Ohio resident, that has a financial need and unable to pay for the drug prescribed or is a patient of a non-profit clinic, qualifies to be a recipient of the program.

“Having this program at Kettering Health gives us another avenue to help those patients that cannot afford cancer medications due to high costs or limited insurance benefits,” Kevin Blackburn, system pharmacy director at Kettering Health, said. “We are grateful to be able to provide our patients the needed care and relieve some of the burdens that come with their diagnosis.”

In October 2019, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy introduced new state rules that allowed drug repository programs to receive eligible donated oral chemotherapy drugs, with the purpose of re-dispensing to patients who cannot afford their prescribed medications.