Getting rid of stock safely.
WHAT REQUIRES CONTROLLED DISPOSAL
Expired medicines Damaged or contaminated stock Recalled product Returned medicines, where accepted Controlled substances
WHY IT MATTERS
Improperly disposed medicines re-enter supply, contaminate water and harm people.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Dispose of medicines in general waste Sell or give away expired stock Return expired stock to shelves Allow expired stock to leave uncontrolled
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
A quarantine area for stock awaiting disposal, marked and separate.
WHAT TO RECORD
Product, batch, quantity, expiry and the reason.
WHAT DISPOSAL TYPICALLY REQUIRES
An authorised handler, or a process supervised by the regulator.
WHY SUPERVISED
Some categories require witnessed destruction.
WHAT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES REQUIRE
Destruction in accordance with the specific requirements, usually witnessed and recorded in the register.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
The exact procedure, with the regulator.
WHAT TO KEEP
Evidence of every disposal: what, when, how and by whom.
WHY
It is inspected, and it evidences that stock did not re-enter supply.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT PATIENT RETURNS
Establish whether you accept them, and what you do with them.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Return them to saleable stock.
WHY
Their storage history is unknown.
WHAT TO MEASURE
Disposal volume and value.
WHAT IT REVEALS
Over-ordering, and which lines to stop stocking.
