Donating Medical Supplies 101

Donated medical supplies can save lives. Whether you have unexpired medical surplus supplies, extra alcohol pads, adult diapers, expensive surgical instruments, or anything in between, you can donate them to hospitals and other organizations in need. Underserved communities, mission hospitals in developing countries, homeless shelters, and local medical teams can all benefit from donated materials.

At Easy Donation PickUp, we provide free scheduled pickups around Los Angeles and Orange County, California, so you can easily support waste reduction efforts and many local organizations. Continue reading below to learn everything you need to know about giving medical supplies and medical equipment to charity.

Guidelines on Donating Medical Supplies and Equipment in Greater L.A.

Medical supplies and equipment must meet certain guidelines to ensure the safety of all patients and medical mission teams. Generally, your donated medical equipment should be less than 10-15 years old and include all necessary parts.

Most global aid medical missions and local organizations prefer unused medical supplies, though it depends on the exact item. For example, organizations can sanitize and reuse medical devices like X-ray machines, though items like IV (intravenous) lines, tubes, and syringes only work once.

Here are a few general guidelines:

• Age: Medical equipment and supplies over 15 years old may not meet modern medicine standards or work with other machinery found in hospitals. Most medical clinics prefer medical materials and hospital equipment from the last decade.
• Parts: Hospitals in developing countries may not have the necessary tools or parts to install the donated supplies, rendering them useless. All donated equipment should include every necessary part, including wiring and installation components.
• Condition: Depending on the item, donated medical supplies and equipment should be in a like-new or lightly used shape. Certain organizations accept pharmaceuticals, though they must not be past the expiration date.

Can You Donate Broken Medical Equipment?

Some organizations accept broken medical equipment if it’s repairable, while others only accept well-working items. Damaged medical supplies can’t help those in need unless the accepting organization can repair the issue or sell the parts for a cash donation. The American Medical Research Foundation is a great example of a donation organization that accepts damaged donations (within certain limitations).

In all scenarios, you should follow these guidelines:

1. The supplies should benefit the receiver.
2. All donations should adhere to the organization’s preferences.
3. You should provide transparency regarding the donation’s quality and condition.

Where To Donate Unused or Surplus Medical Supplies in the Los Angeles Area

Many organizations accept donations from medical companies, local clinics, hospitals, medical professionals, and individuals. You can donate to nationwide and worldwide organizations or local charities, depending on your preferences. For a local donation, consider:

• Local clinics
• Safe houses
• Places of worship
• Homeless shelters
• Local police and fire departments
• Community centers
• Nursing homes
• Schools and daycare centers
• The Salvation Army

Before donating used or surplus medical supplies to any of the above, check to see what they accept. For example, local churches may not accept donations for medical supplies if they don’t need them. We recommend calling to see which local organization accepts donations for your particular supplies and equipment.

You should also notify the organization before sending any used or surplus medical supplies. Unwarranted donations go against standard charity guidelines. We recommend keeping communication open throughout the process so both ends know what to expect.

National or Global Charities That Accept Medical Supplies

If you’d prefer to donate medical supplies to a national or global charity instead of a local organization, you have plenty of options. Many foundations distribute resources across the globe to different communities and hospitals in need. Often, charities provide specific supply lists based on receiver needs.

Here are a few charities that accept the following medical supplies:

• Alliance for Smiles: Unused surgical, pediatric, dental, and biomedical equipment
• American Medical Resource Foundation: Functioning or repairable used medical supplies and equipment
• MedWish International: Unused health-related medical supplies, like crutches, dressings, ace wraps, cardiac monitors, exam tables, assistance walkers, and Hoyer lifts
• Help The Children: Non-expired medications, like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and antibiotic topicals
• Global Links: Unused surgical supplies, biomedical equipment, walking assistance devices, shower benches, and injury aids
• MedShare: Unused biomedical and medical supplies and equipment
• Med-Eq: Supplies ranging from bandages and catheters to hospital beds and more
• Project CURE: General medical supplies and equipment for those in need

Does a Medical Donation Qualify for a Tax Write-off?

Tax deductions, or write-offs, are legal income reductions that you can include in your yearly taxes. Most donations qualify as tax deductions as long as you acquire the receipt for the transaction.

Large donations can offer better tax returns while helping many people receive the healthcare services they need. Many organizations offer a tax write-off receipt upon donation, though you may need to ask. Typically, the receipt will include the fair market value of your donated medical equipment.

How To Send Your Donation

Depending on your chosen charity, you’ll have a few options for sending your donation. Some organizations prefer that you drop the items off in-person, while others offer free pickup services. We recommend visiting the charity’s website to find out its preferences.

At Easy Donation PickUp, we provide free donation pickups for the National Veterans Foundation around Los Angeles and Orange County, CA. In the last 34 years, we’ve helped 450,000 veterans.

You can call our Easy Donation PickUp team at 1 (855) 628-8387 to learn whether or not we can accept your items. If we do, use our online form to schedule a pickup when donating medical supplies.