The accumulation and management of pharmaceutical waste in the community pharmacy

The Accumulation and Management of Pharmaceutical Waste in the Community Pharmacy Authors: students Diana Patašienė and Rima Latožienė, pharmacy master program at Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology. Work Leader: Dr. Kristina Garuolienė. The aim of the study: to determine pharmaceutical waste formation causes and to assess pharmaceutical waste management problems at community pharmacies. Materials and methods: The study was conducted by placing the questionnaire on the Internet, and an electronic email invitations were send to potencial survey participants. The study included 421 pharmaceutical managers working across Lithuania at community pharmacies. The research took place from February of 2017 until March of 2017. Collected data was analyzed using statistical analysis “SPSS 22.0 for Windows“ and “Excel 2013“ programs. The research data analysis results are presented in tables, graphs and charts. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: 18.4 percent of expired medicines form because of the death of a family member, 18.5 percent – because of improper intake of medication 10.7 percent of expired medicines form because of desire to have spare medicine. Prescription drugs consists 78.5 percent of pharmaceutical waste. 24.7 percent of them are cardiac medication and 18.6 percent is blood system drugs. Only 11.6 percent of people brings pharmaceutical waste to pharmacies and 21.6 percent do not know what to do with them. The main information source for patients - pharmacies (40.3 percent). 92.0 percent of all pharmaceutical waste are gathered by inhabitants of Lithuania and only 8.0 percent of pharmaceutical waste forms in the pharmacies. Often modified price list for compensatory drugs (25.3 percent) and innovative medicines coming to the market (19.9 percent) are the main reasons for the formation of pharmaceutical waste. Only 48.6 percent of collected pharmaceutical waste in pharmacies are being held in a special container marked with the words "Drugs to be disposed"