Reverse Logistics of Postconsumer Medicines: The Roles and Knowledge of Pharmacists in the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil

Simone Aquino, Glauco Antonio Spina, Maria Antonietta Leitão Zajac and Evandro Luiz Lopes
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Simone Aquino: Postgraduate Administration Department, Management and Sustainability, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo 01156-000, Brazil
Glauco Antonio Spina: Health Department II, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo 05004-010, Brazil
Maria Antonietta Leitão Zajac: Postgraduate Administration Department, Management and Sustainability, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo 01156-000, Brazil
Evandro Luiz Lopes: Postgraduate Administration Department, Management and Sustainability, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo 01156-000, Brazil

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Environmental contamination due to the disposal of expired or obsolete drugs is a concern, since there is no specific Brazilian legislation, regarding disposal by the final consumer, thus reflecting the need for reverse logistics of medicines, after their consumption. The objective of this study was to survey the knowledge of pharmacists regarding their role in the reverse logistics of medicines and to understand the contribution of reverse logistics, aimed at the appropriate disposal of Group B waste, on a voluntary basis, by the population, in the municipality of São Paulo. A survey conducted through interviews with a hundred and sixty-one pharmacists demonstrated that 35% have partial knowledge of the postconsumer reverse logistics of their place of work and 16.8% have complete knowledge of the environmental harm resulting from the contamination of medicinal waste. The pharmacists also reported (10%) that there should be an educational plan for clients, and 50% of them agreed that incentives and disclosure, regarding the importance of reverse logistics for medicines, should be provided to consumers.

Keywords: reverse logistics; disposal; postconsumer; pharmaceuticals; medicines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4134-:d:181892

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