This week's contributor is Toni Riley, Community Pharmacist and Project Manager of National Return of Unwanted Medicines - In 2016, Griffith University conducted a national audit of the contents of a statistically relevant 30,000 sample of RUM bins from each state and territory.
It is pleasing to note that there was only a small volume of inappropriate items found in the RUM bins. Less than 2% (only 7 RUM bins) of the sample was excluded because they contained more than 50% of waste, other than medicines. It was possible to conclude that pharmacists are using the RUM bins appropriately -- so well done community pharmacy!
Most unwanted medicines were Schedule 4 medicines (almost 55%), with over the counter medicines and dose administrations aids comprising almost another 15% each. Not surprisingly most of the prescription items were PBS items.
One concern was the number of Schedule 8 items found in the RUM bins that no attempt had been made to render the medicines unfit for human consumption. Of the bins audited, 27% had identifiable Schedule 8 medicines in them and were from all jurisdictions. Pharmacists are reminded that each jurisdiction has Drugs and Poisons Regulations that vary, and it is their responsibility to ensure that they dispose of Schedule 8 medicines as required (see www.returnmed.com.au).
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 10 Jul 17
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