Kerala: Health Minister Veena George to inaugurate first ever project on collection, disposal of expired medicines
Thiruvananthapuram: In a first in the country, Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate a project on February 22 in Kozhikode for collection of expired and unused medicines from homes and and dispose of them scientifically.
As part of the project titled ' nPROUD' (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs), unused medicines will be collected from homes or facilities will be provided for their disposal at designated places. This is the first time such a project has been launched and implemented at the government level in the country. It is being implemented for the first time in the Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat of Kozhikode district government is planning to implement it statewide,Veena George said in a press release.
"Expired and unused medicines should not be thrown carelessly into the soil and water bodies. This leads to antimicrobial resistance, health problems and environmental pollution. The Drugs Control Department has taken up this and implemented it because there are no adequate systems in place to collect or scientifically process such medicines", she said.
As per a ANI report, several studies have indicated that unscientific disposal of unusable medicines leads to environmental pollution. Based on such studies, the Drugs Control Department has launched nProud to dispose of unused medicines by following the provisions of the Biomedical Waste Management Act and Rules.
Unused medicines are collected by visiting homes during certain months. In addition, the public can also deposit medicines in the blue boxes installed at permanent collection points. Unused medicines from wholesale and retail establishments and clinics should be brought to collection centers at pre-designated locations.
The project is being implemented with the help of local bodies and Haritha Karma Sena members.
The medicines collected in this way will be scientifically processed at the Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL) waste treatment plant, which is approved by the Central and State Environment Departments.
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