In the absence of any scientific mechanism to collect and dispose of date-expired or unused/waste drugs, the State Drugs Control department is taking up a new initiative, nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs), under which unused/date-expired drugs would be either collected directly from home or spaces would be created where these can be safely disposed of.
Unscientific disposal of date-expired or unused/waste drugs into general wastes, soil or waterbodies has been contributing significantly to antimicrobial resistance and environment pollution because the active chemical ingredients eventually find their way into ground water and food chain.
nPROUD is the first such government initiative in the country and it would be piloted in Kozhikode Corporation and Ullyeri panchayat in Kozhikode district, a statement issued by the office of the Health Minister said.
Several hurdles
The Drugs Control department had initiated the same programme in 2019, partnering with the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists’ Association, but the programme had lost steam after it faced several hurdles.
The project would be scaled up across the State after evaluating the pilot launch.
There are several studies which point to the environmental impact of the careless disposal of drugs. Under nPROUD, the Drugs Control department will ensure that the drugs are disposed of safely, without the violation of Biomedical Waste Management Act or its Rules
Expired/unused drugs will be collected directly from homes in pre-specified months. The public is also encouraged to leave expired drugs in blue-coloured boxes kept at permanent collection centres.
The project is being implemented with the help of local self-government bodies and the members of the Green brigade. The drugs collected by the Drugs Control department will be scientifically disposed of at the waste processing and management plant of Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL), which has the approval of the Union and State Environment departments
nPROUD is to be inaugurated by the Health Minister Veena George at Kozhikode on Wednesday.
