The current status of disposal pharmaceutical product in Tanzania.

Background: The problems of unfit pharmaceutical product disposal become a national that attract attention of both the government and general public awareness and sensitivity. In Tanzania over the past few decades there has been dramatic increase the number of new human, veterinary drugs and person care products introduced into market place. Concern has grown about the adverse effects that the use and disposal of pharmaceuticals might potentially have on human and ecological health. Objective: The biogas objective of study was to assess the current status of disposal of unfit pharmaceuticals in Tanzania. Method: An exploratory type of study conducted involving semi—structure questionnaires, which were hilled in the presence of researcher. Also oral interview with the respondents was employed in gathering more information related to study. Results; The results show that 47.5% of study population encountered was pharmaceutical personnel. Other cadres included clinical professionals. About 52.5% of the administrative structure of the respondents were community pharmacies the rest included Msd, TFDA, and municipals. It was observed that 65% of all pharmaceuticals are disposed improperly. Factors that hinder implementation of proper disposal system in the country included existing procedure complicated and time consuming (88%), lack of disposal guidelines to pharmaceutical dealers (73.1%) and 67%, lack of adequate knowledge on the sensitivity, health and environment hazards due to improper disposal of drugs(67%). About 40.8% stakeholders admitted using similar disposal method for all kind of pharmaceutical dosage form due to lack of proper facilities to dispose drugs and lack of knowledge on alternative methods, procedures to dispose drugs. About 76.9% of respondents could not link association between improper disposal and emergence of bacteria resistance. The rest 23% have a good knowledge. While 93.7% of respondents could link between improper disposal practices effects on Water source contamination and atmospheric pollution and to the 6.3% respondents awareness was very poor. The major disposal methods are land filling and incineration. Majority of the stakeholder were of the opinion that these methods do not conform to FDA/TFDA requirements for disposal. Conclusion: Large proportion of stakeholders confirmed in the study that the current disposal system in the country is improper. Lack of proper facilities and lack of adequate knowledge on sensitivity, health and environment hazards resulted by improper disposal of drugs among pharmaceutical dealers is a critical problem.TFDA should act on its responsibilty.Sensitivity in disposal aspect is very much lacking. Improving the current disposal status demand much effort in implementation of health and environmental policies and intensive investment in education to stakeholders/general public and in procurement of advanced disposal technolog