Wasted medicine in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year, pharmacy group says
Guardian AU Business
β’Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:01:29 GMT
π° What Happened
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that about 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were thrown away in England in 2024-25, enough to fill 75 swimming pools, and that the waste costs the NHS at least Β£480m a year. The industry body wants more regular reviews of repeat prescriptions and less 'over ordering' to cut waste.
π The Backstory
The NPA represents about 6,000 independent community pharmacies in the UK. Medicines must be disposed of once they leave a pharmacy even if unopened, so over-prescribing and over-ordering drive waste that drains NHS budgets and harms the environment.
π― Why It Matters
Wasted medicine diverts hundreds of millions of pounds a year away from patient care just as the NHS faces intense funding pressure. Reducing waste matters for taxpayers, patients, and environmental efforts to cut pharmaceutical pollution.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that about 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were thrown away in England in 2024-25, enough to fill 75 swimming pools, and that the waste costs the NHS at least Β£480m a year. The industry body wants more regular reviews of repeat prescriptions and less 'over ordering' to cut waste.
The NPA represents about 6,000 independent community pharmacies in the UK. Medicines must be disposed of once they leave a pharmacy even if unopened, so over-prescribing and over-ordering drive waste that drains NHS budgets and harms the environment.
Wasted medicine diverts hundreds of millions of pounds a year away from patient care just as the NHS faces intense funding pressure. Reducing waste matters for taxpayers, patients, and environmental efforts to cut pharmaceutical pollution.