Spain leads the field in environmentally-safe medications disposal
Monday, June 3, 2019 @ 9:34 AM
SPAIN has become a 'role model' for other parts of the world thanks to its medications disposal system which helps prevent water contamination and other environmental hazards, according to the non-profit association which collects pharmaceutical waste.
SIGRE's managing director Juan Carlos Mampaso says 'medicine banks' provided by the organisation are set up in practically every chemist's in the country for customers or patients to drop off pills that they no longer need or which have passed their use-by date.
Other healthcare waste such as needles, gauze, disposable or broken thermometers and X-ray plates should not be dropped off in SIGRE banks.
In 2018 – the last complete year – deposits of medications surplus to requirements went up by 12.5%, and the system has inspired other countries in and outside Europe, specifically in Latin America, which are now beginning to create their own medicine deposits.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com