Key facts
- An estimated 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines are disposed of annually in England.
- This annual waste costs the NHS at least £480 million.
- Leftover antibiotics can fuel antimicrobial resistance.
- NHS England is implementing digital tools like the NHS app for prescription management.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has estimated that the volume of medicines wasted in England each year could fill approximately 75 swimming pools. The organization analyzed data from regional health bodies and concluded that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines are disposed of annually, costing the National Health Service (NHS) at least £480 million each year.
Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, emphasized that this financial loss could be reinvested into patient services. He also pointed out the environmental and health consequences of medicine waste, urging patients to only request medicines they are sure they will use, especially for repeat prescriptions. The NPA advocates for more frequent reviews of repeat prescriptions to identify and discontinue unneeded medications.
Dr. Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, a senior lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, added that surplus medicines pose financial, environmental, patient safety, and antimicrobial resistance problems. She specifically noted that leftover antibiotics taken without medical advice contribute to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Regular medication reviews and ordering only necessary amounts are crucial for protecting patients, the NHS, and the environment.
An NHS England spokesperson confirmed that measures are being taken to improve prescription management through the NHS app, including repeat prescriptions. They acknowledged that further action is needed and mentioned ongoing local NHS campaigns aimed at reducing medicine waste, alongside broader efforts to optimize medicine use, which have led to a decrease in prescribed dependency-forming medications over the past decade.