Pharmaceutical Waste Reduction Strategies

Require samples to have long shelf life

Require pharmaceutical representatives to log dates of sample medication drop off and expiration. Only allow samples with one or more years of shelf life left.

Reduces Amount: Yes
Reduces Toxicity: No


Examples of Applying this Strategy

Generic Drug: ALL samples

HCMC moved its sample log from the pharmacy department to purchasing to allow pharmaceutical representatives easier access. Representatives were required to record date of drop off as well as expiration date of medication. In addition, only samples with a year or more left before expiration were allowed.

Proprietary Drug(s): ALL samples

For more information:

http://www.mntap.umn.edu/health/resources/94FS.PharmWaste.pdf

MnTAP
200 Oak Street SE, Sutie 350
Minneapolis, MN 55455-2008

Phone: (612) 624-1300
Fax: (612) 624-3370


Additional Resources

Green Guide for Health Care (GGHC) Pharmaceutical Mangement Technical Brief
http://www.gghc.org/documents/TechBriefs/GGHC_TechBrief_Pharmaceutical.pdf

©2015 Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
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