Industry stresses on need to frame policy on safe disposal of unused drugs

Friday, June 16, 2023

Pharma industry sees an imminent need by the Union government to immediately draft a policy on safe disposal of unused drugs following a recent report on chaotic dumping by households which contaminates environment and results in anti-microbial drug resistance and relapse of infection and allergy.

Harish K Jain, president, Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KDPMA) and Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE) said, “ We are now concerned about the chaotic and random disposal of unused medicine by households even as pharmacies regularly return expiry dated ones to the industry. India is the pharmacy of the world. Therefore, a comprehensive policy on safe disposal of unused drugs is a critical need of the hour.”

The issue of unused drug is a global issue and not just confined to India. Reasons are many. Foremost being compliance to a physician's prescription. Many a time, a patient does not complete his/her prescribed dose. They stop medications when symptoms disappear. However, it is important that the prescribed course is completed especially antibiotics, antipyretic and anti-histamine drugs. In an age of increased microbial infection and drug resistance, there is need to categorically take a call on this, Jain told Pharmabiz.  

Medicine consumption in a typical household with a family of six comprising parents, children and grandparents include life style disorders, paediatric and geriatric dosage forms.  More often the issue of unused medicines is those purchased over-the- counter as when symptoms come under control, consumers discard these, he added.

To ensure optimal medicine management, cutting of strips by retail is may not be an option. This is because when the medicine strip is cut, vital data of its name and expiry date is lost. If the pharmacy outlet does not adhere to proper storage of these medicines into separate carton, then there is a high risk of dispensing of wrong medicines or expiry dated medicines, pointed out Jain.

The option of QR code & perforation on every tablet/capsule is also not feasible in an Indian context. This is because of the space restriction on the medicine pack. If the pack size is increased, it will escalate cost of packaging. The only option is that manufacturers need to go  for pack sizes as per dosage like for instance in the case of azithromycin an antibiotic and albendazole which is an anthelmintic. This is possible only in certain cases and it is already being done wherever feasible either voluntarily or as mandated by Schedule P1 of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, he noted.

The reality is that many a time dedicated dosage packs are not feasible since physician prescribe different dosage to different patients based on clinical condition. Yet there is particularly a huge concern on how the unused medicines are discarded indiscriminately. From apprehensions of anti microbial resistance and environmental impact looming large. Therefore, the pharma sector sees that the Union government should draft a policy on safe disposal of unused drugs which should be in consultation with the industry and healthcare experts among other stake-holders that could create the much-needed public awareness, said Jain.

PHARMABIZ.com