Pharmacists help public to dispose of old and unused medicine safely

This is an excellent opportunity to spring-clean medicine cabinets and dispose of old medicines that accumulated during the winter months.

In the interest of a cleaner and safer environment, the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) has chosen the safe disposal of old and unused medicine as its theme for Pharmacy Week from 1 to 7 September. The PSSA has mobilised pharmacists nationwide to participate in a national awareness campaign to help the public getting rid of old medicine and pharmaceutical products, such as used syringes and needles.

During this week, all participating pharmacists will display signs and posters in their pharmacies, inviting consumers to bring their old and unused medicines to the pharmacy from where it would be transported and destroyed safely and legally.

Lorraine Osman, spokesperson for the PSSA, explained that the intention of this campaign goes beyond Pharmacy Week. She said the safe disposal of medicine should be an ongoing practice that all members of the public are encouraged to adopt.

`We know that it is common practice for the public to pour old and unused medicine down toilet bowls or wash basins, or to throw it into municipal refuse bins because many people just do not know what else to do with it. Just imagine the impact on our water resources if every household should flush their leftover medicine down the toilet or the sink,' she said.

Currently there are few safe and convenient ways for consumers to dispose of unused medicine. Nearly all unused pharmaceuticals disposed of by the public enter either the solid waste system or the sewage system. Neither disposal method is environmentally sound.

Pharmaceuticals flushed down the toilet pass through sewage treatment plants, which are generally not designed to screen for these chemicals. Pharmaceuticals discarded in landfills can seep into the surrounding water-table.

`There have been shocking incidents in the past year where the poor management and illegal dumping of medical waste in public areas demonstrated the ignorance about and contempt for legislation aimed at ensuring the safe and legal disposal of such waste,' said Osman.

Involving consumers and pharmacists in a nationwide campaign to do the right thing and dispose of their own domestic medical waste, such as used syringes and needles as well as their old and unused medicines in a safe and responsible manner, may seem like a minor gesture to address the bulk of illegal dumping of medical waste

But the PSSA believes that educating consumers about safe practices will raise the level of awareness about the disposal of old and unwanted medicines. 'Informed and knowledgeable consumers are our best watchdogs and they will certainly make sure that their discarded medicines do not contribute to a health hazard that affects us all,' said Osman.

Pharmacists are best-positioned to educate the public about the disposal of medicine. They are familiar with the best practices, they know the law and they are accessible to consumers. The PSSA encouraged all pharmacists to participate in this campaign as part of their social responsibility and in the interest of a safer and cleaner environment.

For the purpose of the Pharmacy Week campaign, the PSSA has partnered with two approved medical waste disposal companies, Psychem and Thermopower, to transport and destroy the unused medicines that consumers bring to their pharmacists from 1 to 7 September.

Knowledge is Powerful Medicine - ask your pharmacist for advice on the safe disposal of medicine.

Issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa, the representative body for registered pharmacists in South Africa.