Pharmaceutical Waste Management in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Study on Environmental Implications, Current Practices and Strategies for Sustainable Solutions

The pharmaceutical industry, which is vital for healthcare, faces challenges in effective pharmaceutical waste management, impacting financial resources and healthcare quality. This study addresses these challenges by classifying waste, exploring community perceptions and assessing organisational practices. The study employs advanced waste management strategies and surveys community and organisational practices. It covers disposal methods, health concerns, regulatory effectiveness and organisational approaches to inventory management, procurement cycles, storage conditions and biomedical waste practices. Survey outcomes highlight diverse community perceptions with 35 respondents favouring returning pharmaceuticals to healthcare facilities. Health concerns include contamination of drinking water (11 respondents), increased antibiotic resistance (22 respondents) and exposure to hazardous chemicals (27 respondents). 38 respondents think that regulatory effectiveness is good and 25 think that local communities are actively involved. Organisational practices show 35 respondents rating pharmaceutical inventory management as very effective. In conclusion, the study advocates for responsible disposal practices, increased awareness and location-specific solutions for pharmaceutical waste. Findings emphasize the importance of tailored communication, education and continuous training to ensure consistent adherence to safety protocols, recognizing the interconnection of environmental and health outcomes in pharmaceutical waste management.