Management of pharmaceutical waste from hospitals and community pharmacies in Bahir Dar and Gondar cities, Ethiopia

Most participants had good knowledge and practices related to PWM. Experience with and training about PWM were significantly associated with the good knowledge of participants about PWM. Additionally, experience and working in hospitals were also significantly associated with the good practices of participants toward PWM. Participants who had more exposure to PWM practices demonstrated better adherence, and those working in hospitals exhibited superior PWM practices compared to those in community pharmacies. Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste threatens environmental health, contaminating water and soil, harming ecosystems, and posing risks to vulnerable populations. To address this, regular training for pharmacy personnel on safe disposal and segregation is essential. Additionally, investing in infrastructure like incinerators and proper landfills is crucial for sustainable PWM, mitigating associated public health risks.