Turning Waste Into Treasure: A Pilot Study on the Value of Unused Medications
Author(s)
Mona Y. Alsheikh, PharmD, MSc, PhD1, Yazeed Binishaq, PharmD1, Abdulaziz AlQahtani, PharmD1, Abdulaziz Baghdadi, PharmD1, Moayad AlBaqami, PharmD1, Hana Althobaiti, PharmD, PhD2, Hussein Farag, PharmD, PhD3.
1Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 3Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
1Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 3Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the economic burden of medication waste and identify the associated contributing factors among participants.
METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study was performed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. A medication donation campaign was conducted during a 5-day period, during which participants were urged to return unused, used, or expired medications. The surveys administered to participants collected data on their demographics, the reasons for medication returns, and their approach to medication waste management. The monetary value of preventable waste was estimated by analyzing the costs of returned medications, which were classified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. Medications were also assessed for the potential of re-dispensing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages.
RESULTS: Seventy-one participants returned 1,633 medications. The majority of participants were female (57.7%) and under 60 years old (87.3%). Medications were most often returned by family members (54.9%), followed by patients (31%). The majority of participants (70.4%) admitted to disposing of medications in regular waste bins, while over half of them (57.7%) had never returned medications previously. The primary reason for medication returns was overprescription and excess (67.6%), followed by prescription adjustments (16.9%). Returned medications were mainly used to treat alimentary tract and metabolism issues (30.5%), followed by nervous system conditions (16.1%). The aggregate economic value of all returned medications was estimated at 165,086 SAR (44,008 USD). Of this total, medications acceptable for re-dispensing represented 152,851 SAR (40,741 USD), while expired medications resulted in a loss of 12,235 SAR (3,181 USD). Abiraterone (Zytiga) was the most expensive medication returned, costing 40,117 SAR (10,430 USD).
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study revealed that medication waste imposes a considerable financial burden, but re-dispensing unwanted medications is a viable cost-saving approach. These findings highlight the need for effective drug management systems to reduce waste and optimize resource use.
METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study was performed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. A medication donation campaign was conducted during a 5-day period, during which participants were urged to return unused, used, or expired medications. The surveys administered to participants collected data on their demographics, the reasons for medication returns, and their approach to medication waste management. The monetary value of preventable waste was estimated by analyzing the costs of returned medications, which were classified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. Medications were also assessed for the potential of re-dispensing. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages.
RESULTS: Seventy-one participants returned 1,633 medications. The majority of participants were female (57.7%) and under 60 years old (87.3%). Medications were most often returned by family members (54.9%), followed by patients (31%). The majority of participants (70.4%) admitted to disposing of medications in regular waste bins, while over half of them (57.7%) had never returned medications previously. The primary reason for medication returns was overprescription and excess (67.6%), followed by prescription adjustments (16.9%). Returned medications were mainly used to treat alimentary tract and metabolism issues (30.5%), followed by nervous system conditions (16.1%). The aggregate economic value of all returned medications was estimated at 165,086 SAR (44,008 USD). Of this total, medications acceptable for re-dispensing represented 152,851 SAR (40,741 USD), while expired medications resulted in a loss of 12,235 SAR (3,181 USD). Abiraterone (Zytiga) was the most expensive medication returned, costing 40,117 SAR (10,430 USD).
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study revealed that medication waste imposes a considerable financial burden, but re-dispensing unwanted medications is a viable cost-saving approach. These findings highlight the need for effective drug management systems to reduce waste and optimize resource use.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-09, ISPOR Real-World Evidence Summit 2025, Tokyo, Japan
Value in Health Regional, Volume 49S (September 2025)
Code
RWD109
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas