Attitudes towards the use and disposal of unused medications in two European Countries.

The use of pharmaceuticals has led to considerable improvements in human and animal health. As a consequence of disposal also needs to be considered, making pharmaceuticals a waste management concern. While the disposal of waste pharmaceutical residues through the wastewater stream is widely studied, there are limited data on the disposal of unused pharmaceuticals. It is essential to ascertain why such a paucity of data exists, to identify the disposal strategies that would be accepted by the community and to incorporate this knowledge into an educational campaign. An understanding of current disposal practices and the relevance of the various routes of unused pharmaceutical entry into the environment can help inform policy development and ensure that the disposal methods are adequate to protect human health and the environment. These considerations were the focus of an online survey of current attitudes and practices related to the use and disposal of medication conducted within Malta and the Republic of Ireland in early 2012. 1130 response were received. Although located within different European regions, the health systems of the two countries are similar; the total annual expenditure per capita on health at US$4952 and US$4264 in Ireland and Malta respectively. However, costs for a General Pratictioner (GP) visit in Ireland are around 4–5 times those in Malta.