Consideration of problems with the drug stockpiling for disasters based on the care workers survey

Abstract

We conducted a questionnaire survey of care workers about how to store drugs in case of a disaster. Many respondents said that the cost of stockpiling for disasters should be borne by the national and local governments. In addition, many home-use medicines such as lifestyle-related diseases, psychotropic drugs, and cold medicines were mentioned as medicines to be stockpiled. However, the involvement of doctors and pharmacists is important because long-term care workers have limited control over the medicines of those in need. Many respondents said that they should stockpile if there is the risk of secondary disasters around the workplace. However, depending on the type of secondary disaster such as a tsunami or fire, it is difficult to stay in a long-term care facility, so the effectiveness of stockpiling drugs is questionable. There is also a previous study recommending that stockpiled supplies be stored in evacuation shelters, and there is room to consider stockpiling and managing medicines in highly safe evacuation shelters.