Disposal of Unused Medicines in a Rural Ghanaian Household and its Effect on the Environment

Abstract

In order to ensure that medicines are readily available, affordable and accessible, the supply chain management of medicines has faced many challenges in the advent of improper medicines disposal practices, where toxins are released into the environment [1,26]. In this study, to determine the medicines disposal practices of the people of Akuse, the environmental impact of the practices and the environmentally acceptable method of medicines disposal, it was gathered that many methods are used to dispose of unused medicines by the people of Akuse. These include burning, burying in the ground, donating to family and friends, flushing down the toilet or sink, and adding to household trash. The most typical method is adding to household trash. The various environmental effects of the practices identified were seen to be harmful, such as pollution of water bodies (making water unsafe for use), aquatic life loss, soil nutritional value loss and accidental poisoning of children, mentally disabled persons and pets. The medicine take-back program - Disposal of Unused / Unwanted Medicines Program (D.U.M.P), currently practised at Cocoa Clinic (Accra-Ghana), is the environmentally acceptable means for proper medicines disposal.