An economical analysis on unused and wasted medicines

Purpose: Unused/wasted drugs are a growing problem globally. This study was aimed to analyze the economic loss of unwanted/unused pharmaceutical products by an unused drug collection campaign held in a university. Materials & Method: The study conducted via Unused Drug Collection Campaign organized on the campus of Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey in 2010. Collected drugs were recorded with price information (in 2010 and 2019 prices both), drug feature (content, expiry date, generic/original status and etc.) and past data needed for analysis. The results were compared by distribution in different features and pricing to make analysis. Result and Conclusion: 107 participants brought 1230 pharmaceutical products to the campaign for disposal. The economic burden of total products was 8.086 TL for retail pricing and 6.114 TL for SGK in 2010. In 2019, cost of wasted drugs was estimated as 13.526 TL and 8.721 TL respectively. Paracetamol (n=59), ipratropium bromide (n=43) and vitamin combinations (n=24) were found to be the mostly wasted. Tablet (44,63%), capsules (8,86%) and injectable forms (6,26%) predominated as dosage forms. 45,55% of total drugs were original whereas 39,63% of them were generic. Regarding expiration date, drugs were kept 10 months after expiry date as mean. Most of collected drugs were expired (63,04%), with their original container (62,28%) and used (69,94%). 9,83% of the whole drugs were drug samples and 30,06% were never used. The need for public education and awareness about negative effects of unused drugs in health, economic and also in environment should be emphasized. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the extend of waste. In addition, health care professionals and particularly pharmacists should encourage the public to learn rational use of drugs and safe disposal of drugs. The incremental cost of unused/wasted drugs can be minimized by collaboration of governments, educators, health care providers and public.