Why in News
A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights waste prevention as the most effective strategy for the safe disposal of unused medicines, citing risks to environmental and public health.
Why Improper Disposal is a Concern
Improper disposal of medicines leads to:
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
- Endocrine disruption
- Toxicity risks
- Water, soil and air pollution
- Accidental poisoning
Unused and expired antimicrobials are particularly linked to AMR pollution.
UNEP Four Pillar Framework
The UNEP report proposes a Four-Pillar Approach:
- Prevention at source
- Medicine take-back systems
- Legal and policy frameworks
- Awareness and outreach programmes
Unused Medicine in India
- Households discard up to 70% of purchased medicines, with common methods including throwing them in dustbins (over 80% in studies), contributing to environmental contamination and antimicrobial resistance
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued formal guidelines to address this waste and the resulting environmental hazards.
- Guidelines for:
- Collection
- Storage
- Transportation
- Disposal of expired medicines
- 17 drugs placed under Flush List for safe disposal
| [2019] Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? 1 Genetic predisposition of some people 2 Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases 3 Using antibiotics in livestock farming 4 Multiple chronic diseases in some people Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4 |
