The Hidden Cost of Unused Medicine in England

England is facing a significant challenge with medicine waste, a problem that experts say is costing the National Health Service (NHS) hundreds of millions of pounds every year. According to new data from the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the amount of medicine thrown away annually could fill 75 swimming pools. This waste is not just a financial burden; it also raises serious questions about how the healthcare system manages its resources and patient safety.

The NPA, which represents 6,000 independent pharmacies across the UK, estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were thrown away during the 2024-25 period. This level of waste costs the NHS at least £480 million annually. Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, noted that this money could be better spent on improving services for patients. He explained that once a medicine leaves a pharmacy, it cannot be reused, even if the packaging remains unopened. Because of this, it is vital that patients only receive the medicine they are certain they will use.

This report serves as an update to ongoing concerns about the efficiency of England's healthcare system. While the financial cost is high, experts are equally worried about the health risks associated with keeping unused drugs at home. Dr. Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, a senior lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, warned that surplus medicine is more than just an environmental or money issue. She explained that when patients keep leftover antibiotics and take them later without medical advice, it contributes to antimicrobial resistance—a situation where bacteria become stronger and harder to kill, making it one of the biggest threats to modern medicine.

To address this, the NPA is urging patients to be more careful when ordering repeat prescriptions. They suggest that patients should only request medicine they truly need. Furthermore, the organisation is calling for more regular reviews for patients who take multiple medications. These reviews would help doctors and pharmacists identify which drugs are no longer necessary, preventing the buildup of unused supplies in people's homes.

In response to these findings, an NHS England spokesperson said that the health service is taking steps to help people manage their prescriptions more effectively. The NHS app now allows patients to track and manage their repeat prescriptions directly from their mobile phones. The spokesperson also noted that local NHS services are running campaigns to reduce waste and improve how medicines are used. They pointed out that these efforts have already led to a decrease in the number of dependency-forming medications prescribed over the last decade.

This issue of waste comes at a difficult time for the healthcare system. In June, health leaders warned that the country was facing some of the most severe shortages of NHS medicines on record. These shortages have affected many patients, including those needing common painkillers, epilepsy drugs, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The NPA and the Royal College of GPs have highlighted long-lasting supply issues for specific medications, such as Estradot, which is used by menopausal women, and Creon, a drug essential for people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help them digest food.

As the NHS continues to work on these supply challenges, the focus on reducing waste remains a top priority. Experts believe that by combining better technology with more frequent communication between patients and their pharmacists, the system can save money and improve safety. For now, the message to the public is clear: only order what is needed, and speak to a pharmacist if there are any concerns about current medications. By working together, patients and healthcare providers hope to turn the tide on this growing problem, ensuring that valuable resources are used where they are needed most.