Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1114. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has examined the role of repeat prescribing, automatic renewals, phased dispensing, blister-pack changes, and non-adherence in contributing to medicines waste; and whether any reform proposals are under consideration. [38766/26]
View answerImproper disposal of unused or expired medicines leads to environmental and health risks including antimicrobial resistance and contamination of ecosystems. While a range of factors—including repeat prescribing practices, automatic renewals, phased dispensing arrangements, changes to blister packs, and levels of patient adherence can influence the accumulation of unused medicines, medicines waste is a multifactorial challenge requiring a system-wide response involving prescribers, pharmacists, and patients.
Pharmacists are well-positioned to facilitate safe medicine returns due to their accessibility and expertise. Under the 2025 Community Pharmacy Agreement a yearly allocation of €4,500,000 is being made available to provide for the provision of a new national medicine disposal campaign. This service will be available at community pharmacies in the coming months and will provide a convenient and accessible system for the safe disposal of unused medication.
For the first time, the service will provide a structured, nationwide basis to track activity, volumes of medicines returned and the related costs over time. That is the practical way to build a clear evidence base on the scale of unused and expired medicines and on the financial implications for the health service.
Over time, the disposal service will provide evidence on the types and volumes of medicines being returned, which will inform better prescribing practice, dispensing practice and public awareness measures. This will support a more targeted approach to reducing waste, while also improving value for money, patient safety and environmental protection.
