Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines - A One Health approach for national systems

Improper disposal of unused medicines poses significant environmental and health risks, yet substantial gaps remain in the management of unused medicines within and across households, healthcare facilities and agricultural production. This document aims to strengthen the implementation of national systems for the safe disposal of unused medicines within a One Health approach. It proposes an integrated approach structured around four key pillars- waste prevention, comprehensive take-back schemes, legal and policy frameworks, and awareness-raising across critical sectors. By providing a comprehensive foundation for policy development, it equips policymakers and the relevant stakeholders with actionable, evidence-based insights to implement effective, context-specific strategies for the prevention, reduction and environmentally sound management of unused medicines and its associated impacts