Many items classed as medicinal waste could in fact be re-used or recycled. Also, the disposal of these substances and the subsequent impact on the environment is an important issue and the recycling or re-use of medicines could reduce environmental impact.

Contributing trends and developments

High-volume manufacturing and the rise of automated online dispensing leads to a culture of oversupply of medicines due to the high level of accessibility. Funding pressure or the possibility of pandemics may mean that the evaluation and re-allocation of medication becomes more important and economically viable. There may be an increase in awareness of the potential impact medicinal waste has on the environment and the potential ways it can be mitigated including re-use and recycling.

Potential future situation

Continuing oversupply of particular medicines, combined with funding and pandemic pressures mean that schemes are introduced to recycle and reuse unwanted prescription drugs similar to those operated by some US states. The drugs would need to be collected and assessed for safety before redistribution to patients who cannot afford costly medication

Proposed workforce impact

The pharmacy workforce, and other prescribing professions, must be trained to evaluate unused medicines and other medicinal waste appropriately. This may require new skills and raises several questions for workforce planning:

• How can diagnostics and testing in the community be delivered safely and effectively without posing a threat to the environment?
• How will the workforce guarantee the safety and quality of reused drugs and other items?
• How will pharmacists manage this process and will new education and training requirements be needed?

Sources or references

Evaluation of the scale, Causes and Costs of Waste Medicines http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1350234/1/Evaluation_of_NHS_Medicines_Waste__web_publication_version.pdf

WHO Safe management of wastes from healthcare activities http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85349/1/9789241548564_eng.pdf

http://www.medicinewaste.com/

http://www.who.int/topics/medical_waste/en/

http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/state-prescription-drug-return-reuse-and-recycling.aspx

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/05/recycling-prescription-drugs

‘Medical waste becoming an increasing problem, UN rights expert says.’ Sept 2011 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39543&Cr=toxic&Cr1#.VGtgqLVFCM8

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.