Expired drugs pose a danger to the environment and to people. Many countries collect and destroy expired medicine as a solution to this issue. The Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (AMDM) is getting ready for this practice. In a few months, all pharmacies in the country will collect expired medicines from citizens in order to be destroy them.
During a preliminary discussion about the implementation of the service, the director general of the AMDM, Zinaida Bezverhni, said that a awareness campaign for the citizens about the possibility of harmlessly destroying drugs will be launched. According to the director, currently, the expired medicines either reach the sewerage system or the garbage station, which leads to health risks and damage to the environment.
According to Zinaida Bezverhni, the intention is to organize collection points for expired drugs in each pharmacy. Collection points will be located in health centers or in family doctors' offices in villages with fewer pharmacies. "We want every citizen to have the opportunity to get rid of unused medicines", said Zinaida Bezverhni.
"The initiative is a very important one and we are ready to do everything in our power in order to collect expired medicines in our pharmacies," said Mihai Postolache, a representative of the Hipocrates pharmacy network.
Natalia Sturza, the general manager of the Felicia pharmacy network, said that it is not rare for people to bring expired drugs to the pharmacy, thus the implementation of the collection program will solve a big issue.
The collected expired drugs will be destroyed at a cement plant.
