OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to understand the pattern, quantity, cost and types of medication returns and recommend potential strategies to decrease them.

METHODS: We carried out a prospective observational study for six months in the Satellite Pharmacy of a South Indian teaching hospital. Categories of medication(s) returned from wards to the satellite pharmacy on a daily basis were included. Non-drug items and out-patient drugs were excluded. We used a pre-designed medication return record form for data capture. Patient demography, reason(s) for drug returns, medication class, dosage form(s) quantity and cost of returned drugs were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version.

RESULTS: RUM involved a total of 1003 individual prescriptions, consisting 4562 individual cases of RUM, worth INR 838853, amounting to an average of 4 drugs per prescription per patient. RUM was highest from general medicine, orthopedics and gynecology wards. Eleventh hour changes in prescription and dispensing in excess of requirement were two major reasons for RUM. Anti-infective agents constituted the greatest proportion of RUM.

CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced deployment of clinical pharmacist services in hospital wards and improving medication reconciliation can significantly reduce the quantity, cost and time wasted on RUM