Aspects Regarding the Pharmaceutical Waste Management in Romania

Simona Bungau, Delia Mirela Tit, Katalin Fodor, Gabriela Cioca, Maricel Agop, Ciprian Iovan, Delia Carmen Nistor Cseppento, Adrian Bumbu and Cristiana Bustea
Additional contact information
Simona Bungau: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania
Delia Mirela Tit: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania
Katalin Fodor: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania
Gabriela Cioca: Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu 550024, Romania
Maricel Agop: Department of Physics, Faculty of Machine Manufacturing and Industrial Management, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Iasi 700050, Romania
Ciprian Iovan: Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania
Delia Carmen Nistor Cseppento: Department of Psycho Neuroscience and Recovery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania
Adrian Bumbu: Department of Psycho Neuroscience and Recovery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania
Cristiana Bustea: Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea 410028, Romania

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: The issue of drug disposal, as well as the development and implementation of efficient collection strategies, represents an important concern at the highest European level. This research looks into the factors that could have an impact on the efficiency of pharmacies in collecting and disposing the medicinal waste of the population. There were 521 pharmacists from all over the country who filled in a questionnaire on their opinion/attitude related to the system of collecting and disposing the pharmaceutical waste of the population. Of the surveyed pharmacists, 16% work in pharmacies that do not collect unused/expired drugs from the population, and nearly 33% of those investigated have refused, at least once, to take the unused medicines from the people. Pharmacists’ most important reasons for refusing to collect the pharmaceutical waste were the lack of procedure, incomplete legislation, exceeding the amount contracted with the operators, and high costs. Results show that pharmacies in Romania face several deficiencies in the pharmaceutical waste collection services. The lack of implemented programs has contributed considerably to lower standards of pharmaceutical waste management in Romania. This study is the first research on this topic in Romania, a country where the management of drug-based waste generated by the population is at the beginning. The results shown in this survey can provide a reference point for competent authorities in developing and implementing a take-back program for waste medicine whose efficiency is superior to the existing ones.

Keywords: pharmaceutical waste; management; collection schemes; unused drug disposal; pharmacists (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 (15)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:8:p:2788-:d:162292

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