New Initiative For Proper Disposal Of Unused Drugs In Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 13 MARCH 2019: To promote scientific disposal of unused or expired drugs, the state drugs control department, in association with the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA), is set to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative called PROUD (programme on removal of unused drugs).

The initiative is based on the study reports published by World Health Organization, which points at antibiotic seepage in water bodies and soil due to unscientific disposal of unused drugs. Even though there are many laws to regulate the production and distribution of drugs in India, not much stress has been given on proper disposal of drugs and chemicals. Medicines that are not properly disposed have chances of being misused and unscientific disposal could even pose threat to our ecosystem.

As part of the programme, unused drugs would be collected and treated with bio-medical waste, said state drugs controller Ravi S Menon. The state drugs department has tied up with Ramky Group in Mangaluru for using the latter's waste treatment plant.

In the first phase, it is being launched in Thiruvananthapuram with the help of AKCDA by installing 150 collection boxes for unused drugs at drug stores. "About 99% of the drugs come from outside the state. A few of the multinational drug manufacturers have the system to take back expired drugs. We have approached such companies," said Menon. The department also has plans to install the boxes at government offices, hospitals and public places.

"If the littering of medicine in open spaces goes unchecked, it could lead to anti-microbial resistance,'' said AKCDA state president A N Mohanan.ET Healthworld