PHARMACY WEEK 2008 Safe Disposal of Medicine and Medical Waste A Social Responsibility Programme Benzie Joffe Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa

Dangers of medicine and medical waste  Indiscriminate dumping by unscrupulous operators  Domestic and community environment: Accidental poisoning Unintentional contamination due to ignorance, lack of knowledge Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Reality check  Exposé in December 2007 in Sunday Times  “South Africa is in the grip of a massive medical waste crisis as warehouses and other sites are illegally crammed with tons of rotting body parts and other highly hazardous hospital waste.” Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Statistics: Accidental poisoning  Drug-related queries in children under 5 years during 2007: 30% of total calls were related to accidental poisoning (217 calls out of 733) 18% of queries: - paracetamol 14,5% of queries: - anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants 12% of queries: - antihistamines and cough mixtures 7% of queries: - cardiovascular drugs eg beta blockers  Source: Tygerberg Poison Information Centre Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Exposure to medicine  Accidental poisoning  Children have easy access to drugs  Incorrect storage  Lack of adequate parental/care- giver supervision Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

PSSA takes action  Pharmacy Week 1-7 September  Pharmacy Week Committee  Theme: Safe Disposal of Medicine and Medical Waste Call on pharmacists to implement procedures for safe disposal of medicine Educational drive to inform the public  “Knowledge is Powerful Medicine” Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Obtain the Facts  Survey among 800 pharmacists  72 hours, 260 responses  Overwhelming response  49% utilise waste disposal companies Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Waste disposal methods  Current methods of disposal: Thermal desorption – Thermopower Legal collection and transportation – Psychem Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

What do we do about it?  Minimise the waste  Reduce the burden  Share the responsibility How do we do it? Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Educate and Inform  Educate, inform and assist pharmacists about legal, ethical medical waste disposal  Educate consumers about responsible use  Create public awareness through media campaign Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Response by PSSA  PSSA is being pro-active  Legislative Framework as guide  Developed SOP  15 point check list  Media campaign  Inform and involve members and all other role-players Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Get involved  Social responsibility: it is the right thing to do.  Educate and inform consumers  Participate in Pharmacy Week  The PSSA will support you by providing Posters Decals Waste Disposal Bags Buttons Finance Educational Information Sustainability? Knowledge is Powerful Medicine

Thank You! Knowledge is Powerful Medicine