Recycled medicines could make a massive difference to people’s lives

Scottish Conservatives have called for the Scottish Government to examine further the possibility of adopting a recycling scheme, similar to the waste medicine recycling schemes operating in some European countries.

Under current regulations, returned and unused medicines cannot be reused and are destroyed. Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell raised the issue in her Member's Business debate last November, and has now written to Michael Matheson, the Public Health Minister, to seek an update on the progress made by the Scottish Government.

Margaret Mitchell said:

"In France, and some other European countries, unused packs of medicines, with suitable expiry dates, are collected and later supplied to populations in need in countries around the world.

"The Minister acknowledged calls for the examination of alternative measures of disposal and for the reuse of prescription medicines rather than their incineration, and undertook to consider whether the Scottish Government could, and indeed would, introduce these measures.

"However, as nothing appears to have happened I have written to the Minister to seek an update on the progress made by the Scottish Government. These medicines are desperately needed in third world countries where they could make a massive difference to people's lives."

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