Waste-minimising measures to achieve sustainable supply and use of medication

Abstract

Medication waste has a high impact on the healthcare budget and detrimental effects on the environment. Therefore, preventing medication from remaining unused through the pharmaceutical chain forms an interesting approach to achieve sustainable supply and use of medication. This scoping review focusses on how stakeholders involved can prevent the waste of potentially viable medication. Manufacturers can contribute to sustainable supply and use of medication by extending medications' shelf-life, choosing the most sustainable storage conditions and adjusting package sizes. The role of distributors involves stock management optimisation and loosening shelf-life policies. In turn, prescribers can commit to rational prescribing practices, including consideration of prescription quantities and prescriptions for shorter durations. Pharmacists can contribute via appropriate stock management, enhancing medication preparation processes, optimising dispensing processes, and redispensing unused medication. Patients’ awareness of medication waste must be increased to stimulate conscious medication-ordering and to create willingness for participation in waste-minimising interventions. Finally, health authorities can contribute to sustainability by creating awareness and enforcing waste-minimising measures. Due to the multiple causes of medication waste at all levels of the pharmaceutical supply and use chain, no single intervention is sufficient to overcome the problem of medication waste, thus a joint responsibility of all stakeholders is needed.