Recycling unused medications in hospitals is financially viable and good for the environment.

Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9204243 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2042-7174 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09617671 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Pharm Pract Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2021- : [Oxford] : Oxford University Press
Original Publication: London, England : Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, c1991-

Pharmacy* ; Pharmaceutical Services* ; Pharmacies*; Humans ; Hospitals, Urban ; Pharmaceutical Preparations

Objectives: Considerable pharmaceutical waste is generated in hospital settings which can be reduced by recycling of unused medications. We sought to determine the recycling practices as well as quantify the volume and the value of oral solid medications returned from nursing units to the pharmacy departments at three urban hospitals.
Methods: Unused oral solid medications were recycled at three sites and the net financial impact of this practice was calculated (cost recovered - labour costs). The results were extrapolated to all 21 hospitals within the health system.
Key Findings: Recycling medications in 21 hospitals could divert ~461 000 units of medication from the incinerator, with an estimated net value of ~$415 000 per year.
Conclusions: Recycling unused medications could save substantial amounts of money and reduce negative environmental impacts from disposal/incineration.
(© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Keywords: cost effectiveness; dispensing; medicines management; medicines waste

0 (Pharmaceutical Preparations)

Date Created: 20230811 Date Completed: 20231023 Latest Revision: 20231023

20231023

10.1093/ijpp/riad062

37566550