REGULATORY GAPS IN PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA: LESSONS FROM KERALA'S nPROUD

Pharmaceutical waste management is a critical yet often neglected issue in India. Despite the presence of biomedical waste regulations, the disposal of unused and expired medicines remains largely unregulated, leading to environmental pollution and public health hazards. Kerala’s New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs initiative marks India’s first structured, government-led approach to medication disposal. This review highlights regulatory gaps in India's pharmaceutical waste management, compares Kerala’s model with global best practices, and proposes a national policy framework for sustainable pharmaceutical waste disposal.