Analysis of trends in the generation and disposal of pharmaceutical waste in domestic healthcare institutions

Abstract

For many countries of the world, the problem of waste disposal is acute. This applies to both economically developed countries and developing countries. Hazardous substances contained in pharmaceutical and medical waste negatively affect the environment and human health.

Аim of the work was to investigate the existing problems in Ukraine regarding the management and disposal of pharmaceutical waste (PW) and to propose effective directions for overcoming these problems.

Materials and methods of the study: The study was conducted using databases on the Internet: data from the websites of research companies European Commission, Statista; data from the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; scientific and metric databases - Scopus, Web of Science, etc. The methods used in the research were analytical, statistical, systemic, structural-logical and computational, as well as the materials provided by the internal reporting documentation of the departments of some domestic healthcare institutions (PHIs).

Results of the study. The dynamics of the formation of medical waste, pharmaceutical waste, the main indicators of the formation and management of pharmaceutical waste of hazard classes I-IV, the accumulation of PW during operation at waste disposal sites by hazard classes, the formation of pharmaceutical waste by hazard classes in Ukraine for 2019-2023 were studied. A general trend towards an increase in accumulated pharmaceutical waste at landfills is noted, which indicates the need to improve the processing infrastructure and more actively implement environmentally safe pharmaceutical waste management technologies. Optimization of these processes will minimize the negative impact on the environment and ensure sustainable use of natural resources. It is proven that to overcome the problem of pharmaceutical waste management and utilization in Ukraine, it is necessary to implement comprehensive and effective measures. The main directions for solving this problem are considered. A process model of the pharmaceutical waste management strategy in health care facilities is proposed, where each new stage of implementing the pharmaceutical waste management strategy begins only after the successful completion of the previous stage. The effectiveness of the pharmaceutical waste management system is determined by the level of achievement of the set goals of the pharmaceutical waste management process.

Conclusions. It is proven that the growth in pharmaceutical waste volumes in the period from 2019 to 2023 requires an improvement in the management system for such waste to minimize their negative impact on the environment. The growth of the accumulation of pharmaceutical waste in landfills is also a significant problem, requiring the development of new methods of disposal in order to avoid long-term environmental consequences. It is noted that updating and improving disposal technologies, in particular the introduction of environmentally friendly methods, will help reduce the number of pharmaceutical waste in landfills. It is proposed that in order to improve the management of pharmaceutical waste, it is important to improve the regulatory framework, strengthen control over the activities of health care institutions and FOs, and introduce strict sanctions for violations of disposal standards. In addition, the adaptation of international experience, in particular European disposal standards, will allow the implementation of more effective practices and reduce environmental and social risks for Ukraine.