Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, 410 North 12th Street, PO Box 980533, Richmond, VA 23298-0533, United States.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science, 410 N 12th Street, P.O. Box 980533, Richmond, VA 23298-0533, United States.
Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2023 Oct;15(10):849-853. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.08.001. Epub 2023 Aug 15.
Pharmaceutical waste from unused or expired medications and supplies has environmental, economic, and social implications. Redistribution of these items from institutions to schools of pharmacy may contribute to global sustainability efforts.
This commentary outlines the proposed call to action through the United Nation's five dimensions of sustainability: planet, prosperity, people, partnerships, and peace. Reuse of medications by schools of pharmacy ensures the lifespan of a product is expanded, thereby reducing the amount of waste in landfills. Forming partnerships between institutions and schools of pharmacy lends to economic prosperity due to cost-avoidance and cost-recovery. This repurposing also prioritizes people by limiting the impact on supply chains and medication shortages, while also resource sharing in times of need. These efforts lead to increased peace through waste mitigation, mutually beneficial business, social responsibility, and community outreach.
Collaborations between institutions and schools of pharmacy can reduce pharmaceutical waste, which in turn will enhance the economic stability of both parties, while positively impacting the environment and society in which these partnerships reside.
未使用或过期的药物和供应品产生的药物废物对环境、经济和社会都有影响。将这些物品从机构重新分配到药学院可能有助于实现全球可持续发展目标。
本文通过联合国可持续发展的五个维度——地球、繁荣、人类、伙伴关系和和平，概述了这一行动呼吁。药学院对药物的再利用确保了产品的使用寿命得以延长，从而减少了垃圾填埋场中的废物量。由于避免了成本和回收成本，机构和药学院之间建立伙伴关系有助于经济繁荣。这种重新利用还通过限制对供应链和药物短缺的影响，优先考虑人类，同时在需要时共享资源。这些努力通过减少浪费、互利的业务、社会责任和社区外展，促进了和平。
机构和药学院之间的合作可以减少药物废物，从而提高双方的经济稳定性，同时对这些合作伙伴所在的环境和社会产生积极影响。
