Last Updated on June 23, 2023 by The Health Master
Safe Disposal of Unused Drugs
The pharmaceutical industry recognizes the pressing need for the Union government to promptly develop a policy on the safe disposal of unused drugs.
This necessity arises following a recent report revealing haphazard dumping of drugs by households, leading to environmental contamination, antimicrobial drug resistance, and the resurgence of infections and allergies.
Concerns over Chaotic Disposal:
Harish K Jain, President of the Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KDPMA) and Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE), expresses worry about the unorganized and arbitrary disposal of unused medication by households.
This occurs despite pharmacies routinely returning expired drugs to the industry. Jain emphasizes that as the global pharmacy hub, India urgently requires a comprehensive policy on the safe disposal of unused drugs.
Global Significance of the Issue:
The issue of unused drugs extends beyond India and is a global concern. The primary reason behind this problem is the lack of adherence to prescribed dosages.
Patients often discontinue their medications when their symptoms subside, disregarding the importance of completing the prescribed course—particularly in the case of antibiotics, antipyretics, and antihistamines.
Given the increasing prevalence of microbial infections and drug resistance, it is crucial to address this matter decisively.
Factors Contributing to Unused Medicines:
Within a typical household consisting of six individuals, including parents, children, and grandparents, medicine consumption encompasses various forms for lifestyle disorders, pediatric patients, and geriatric individuals.
Unused medicines are often those purchased over-the-counter, as consumers tend to discard them once their symptoms are under control.
Optimal Medicine Management:
To ensure optimal medicine management, retail stores should avoid cutting medicine strips. This is because cutting the strip leads to the loss of vital information, such as the medicine’s name and expiry date.
If pharmacies fail to store these medicines in separate cartons, there is a high risk of dispensing wrong or expired drugs.
Feasibility Concerns and Possible Solutions:
Implementing QR codes and perforations on each tablet or capsule is not currently feasible in India due to space restrictions on medicine packaging. Increasing the pack size would escalate packaging costs.
Therefore, manufacturers need to consider dosage-specific pack sizes, as seen in the case of antibiotics like azithromycin and anthelmintics like albendazole.
This approach is already being adopted voluntarily or as mandated by Schedule P1 of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, wherever possible.
Challenges with Dedicated Dosage Packs:
While dedicated dosage packs are not always feasible due to physicians prescribing different dosages based on clinical conditions, there is a significant concern regarding the indiscriminate disposal of unused medicines.
This issue raises apprehensions about antimicrobial resistance and environmental impact.
Therefore, the pharmaceutical sector urges the Union government to collaborate with industry representatives, healthcare experts, and other stakeholders to draft a policy on the safe disposal of unused drugs.
Such a policy would promote much-needed public awareness.
Conclusion:
Given the alarming consequences of chaotic drug disposal, it is imperative that the Union government develops a comprehensive policy addressing the safe disposal of unused drugs.
By involving industry experts, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders, this policy can effectively tackle the challenges posed by unused medicines while creating awareness among the public.
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