California's first and only surplus drug pharmacy offers free prescription medication for Santa Clara County residents with a valid ID and prescription. As a State Legislator, Supervisor Simitian worked to legalize safe redistribution of unopened prescription medications from those who no longer need them, to those who very much do. Disposal of unused medications costs an estimated $100 million annually in California alone, while nearly one quarter of American adults skip prescriptions due to cost, which leads to worsened health outcomes. In 2019 the Community Benefits Program of El Camino Hospital and Health Care District awarded $50,000 in 2019 to help more county residents access the drugs they need.
