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Better Health Pharmacy - County of Santa Clara Public Health Department

We are the first and only dedicated drug donation pharmacy in California. We received unused, unopened, and unexpired medications from licensed healthcare facilities, and dispense the drugs at no cost to our patients who have a valid prescription. Our pharmacy aims to increase medication access for all and serves patients who cannot afford their medications.

NO controlled drugs, NO insurance, NO copays

Please note the following about our pharmacy:

  1. All medications require a valid prescription from a doctor.
  2. Please call our pharmacy during business hours for an inventory check.  This list of medications shows what we commonly stock at our pharmacy, but our inventory changes constantly, so please call to see if we have what you need.
  3. We do not accept medication donations from patients; it is prohibited by California Drug Donation laws.
  4. If you have unwanted medications, it is important that you dispose of them safely. Please do not dispose of them in your trash, down the drain or in your toilet. Use the interactive map to find drop-off locations for unwanted medications. 
  5. Regarding stock availability: our pharmacy is supplied with medications donated by other healthcare organizations. Due to the random nature of donations, the availability of specific medications cannot be guaranteed. We apologize and will transfer any prescription you may have on file to the pharmacy of your choice.

Hours of Operation

Sunday and Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday: 10:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We are also closed on all County of Santa Clara observed holidays.   

Better Health Pharmacy 
725 E. Santa Clara St., #202 
San Jose, CA 95112 
(408) 794-0564 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does “NO insurance, NO copays” mean?
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We are a non-profit facility. Because our medications are donated to us, we offer them to you at no charge and with no copays. There is NO CASH in the pharmacy.
What does “NO controlled drugs” mean?
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California medication donation laws do not allow us to receive and dispense controlled drugs. These include pain medications like Norco, Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, Codeine; anxiety medications like Ativan & Valium; ADHD medications like Adderall & Ritalin, etc. 
Who are the donors of your medications?
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​California’s Good Samaritan Law, Health and Safety Code Section 150200, allows for many types of eligible donors to Better Health Pharmacy. However, currently the majority of the medications are donated from licensed, in good standing, skilled nursing facilities throughout California.
How do you guarantee the quality of the donated medications?
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Our pharmacy is licensed by the California Board of Pharmacy. All of our donating facilities are also licensed and pass our donor criteria. All donated medications are inspected once received by our pharmacy staff. Before dispensing, a pharmacist has to inspect the medication as well.
How do I qualify to receive medication from this free pharmacy?
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Anyone with a valid prescription, and provided we must have the medication in stock, can receive medication from the Better Health Pharmacy.

Why is my medicine on your Medication List, yet sometimes not available at your pharmacy?
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Our pharmacy is supplied with medications donated by other healthcare organizations. Due to the random nature of donations, the availability of specific medications cannot be guaranteed. We apologize and will transfer any prescription you may have on file to the pharmacy of your choice.
What happens when you do not have my medication in stock and I still have refills on my prescription?
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Our medication supplies are not guaranteed each time since we cannot predict what will be donated to us. In this case, we can have your prescription transferred to another pharmacy. Depending on your prescription coverage, you may be charged at the other pharmacy. 
Where can I go to get more information?
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​You can call the pharmacy at (408) 794-0564.
Last updated: 7/9/2019 2:06 PM
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