<p>A survey among around 2,000 people in Karnataka has shown that discarding of medicines is a common problem, with 80% of respondents saying they have discarded unused medicines they purchased over the past three years.</p>.<p>The survey was conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles at the national level.</p>.<p>The main reason cited by respondents from Karnataka was that the minimum quantity that pharmacists sold was higher than their requirement.</p>.<p>Patients are often forced to buy entire packets of medicines as pharmacists want to avoid cutting strips that would lead to loss of information like manufacturing and expiry date details.</p>.<p>Of all respondents, 48% said they had discarded up to 10% of the medicines they bought as those were left unused and expired.</p>.<p>Another 16% discarded 10-50% of the medicines they purchased. Only 7% of people discarded 50-70% of the medicines purchased.</p>.<p>The survey report points out that unsafe disposal of medicines leads to environmental hazards, such as presence of medication compounds in water bodies and soil.</p>.<p>There is little awareness or sensitisation on the handling of this waste.</p>.<p>While 47% of respondents said they end up with excess medicines as their requirement is lower than the minimum quantity sold by the chemist, another 21% said they faced the same problem with e-pharmacies.</p>.<p>However, 15% said they stopped taking medicine on getting better, and another 9% said doctors prescribed more medicines than necessary.</p>.<p>Nearly all respondents believed the situation should change. Twenty eight per cent said chemists and e-pharmacies should sell medicines in smaller quantities and that manufacturers should take back medicines sold.</p>.<p>Option to return</p>.<p>Another 40% believed that consumers should be allowed to return medicines within a month and that manufacturers should be mandated to take these back.</p>.<p>About 24% said no such change was needed, but every district should have a hospital where people can donate unused medicines. The survey threw up similar results at the national level.</p>
<p>A survey among around 2,000 people in Karnataka has shown that discarding of medicines is a common problem, with 80% of respondents saying they have discarded unused medicines they purchased over the past three years.</p>.<p>The survey was conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles at the national level.</p>.<p>The main reason cited by respondents from Karnataka was that the minimum quantity that pharmacists sold was higher than their requirement.</p>.<p>Patients are often forced to buy entire packets of medicines as pharmacists want to avoid cutting strips that would lead to loss of information like manufacturing and expiry date details.</p>.<p>Of all respondents, 48% said they had discarded up to 10% of the medicines they bought as those were left unused and expired.</p>.<p>Another 16% discarded 10-50% of the medicines they purchased. Only 7% of people discarded 50-70% of the medicines purchased.</p>.<p>The survey report points out that unsafe disposal of medicines leads to environmental hazards, such as presence of medication compounds in water bodies and soil.</p>.<p>There is little awareness or sensitisation on the handling of this waste.</p>.<p>While 47% of respondents said they end up with excess medicines as their requirement is lower than the minimum quantity sold by the chemist, another 21% said they faced the same problem with e-pharmacies.</p>.<p>However, 15% said they stopped taking medicine on getting better, and another 9% said doctors prescribed more medicines than necessary.</p>.<p>Nearly all respondents believed the situation should change. Twenty eight per cent said chemists and e-pharmacies should sell medicines in smaller quantities and that manufacturers should take back medicines sold.</p>.<p>Option to return</p>.<p>Another 40% believed that consumers should be allowed to return medicines within a month and that manufacturers should be mandated to take these back.</p>.<p>About 24% said no such change was needed, but every district should have a hospital where people can donate unused medicines. The survey threw up similar results at the national level.</p>
