Research to determine the scale and cost of waste medicines is progressing. The research findings are expected later in 2009 and will inform the development of Government policy for influencing both health professionals and members of the public to reduce the amount of unwanted medicines and provide better value for money for the national health service.
The Department currently supports a range of initiatives including repeat dispensing and medicines use reviews, through the contractual framework for community pharmacy, where pharmacists help patients get the most from their medicines, while at the same time minimising wastage by optimising use.