Prescription medicine waste 'costs ?500,000' to NHS in Scotland

[Northerner]

The Liberal Democrats have hit out at the ?500,000 a year cost to the NHS in Scotland for collecting and destroying unused prescriptions.

The figures obtained by freedom of information cover the cost of medicines returned unused to pharmacies in 10 out of 14 health boards in 2011/12.

The Scottish Lib Dems said colossal amounts of medicines were being wasted.

The Scottish government said GPs, health boards and patients needed to be aware of the problem.

The collective cost for the 10 health boards totalled ?517,342.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20846190

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Saw that article earlier today. I dread to think how much is wasted in the UK as well.
When I moved into this bungalow last year a dustbin full of unused/unopened prescription items were on the premises 😱 I was disgusted.

 

[Northerner]

Such a terrible waste