England's unused drugs could fill 75 pools annually, pharmacies warn

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has raised conce…

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has raised concerns over the scale of medication waste in England, suggesting that the volume of discarded drugs in a single year could fill 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

According to the NPA's estimates, approximately 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines were thrown away across England during the 2024-25 period. This figure highlights a persistent and growing challenge within the healthcare system, the organisation said.

The association is urging health authorities to implement more frequent reviews of repeat prescriptions as a practical measure to reduce unnecessary dispensing and waste. By reassessing patients' ongoing medication needs on a regular basis, the NPA believes that many prescriptions could be adjusted or stopped altogether, thereby cutting down on surplus supply.

Experts point to several factors contributing to the

Experts point to several factors contributing to the problem, including over-prescribing, changes in treatment plans, and patients failing to use all their medication. The financial cost of such waste is substantial, placing additional strain on the NHS budget at a time when resources are already stretched.

The NPA has called for a coordinated effort involving GPs, pharmacists, and patients to tackle the issue. While acknowledging that some level of waste is inevitable, the association stresses the importance of systemic changes to minimise its impact, both financially and environmentally.

Efforts to address the problem have been made in the past, but the NPA argues that more decisive action is needed. Regular medication reviews, improved patient education, and better communication between prescribers and dispensers are among the suggested solutions to curb the growing trend.