The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7275 p667
15 November 2003

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Most returns are no longer required, Tesco scheme finds

Almost half the medicines returned to Tesco instore pharmacies during a scheme run earlier this year were handed in because they were no longer required by patients. The four-week campaign prompted over £17,000 worth of medicines to be returned.

During the four weeks from 20 January, Tesco pharmacies handed out 80,000 pre-printed carrier bags to customers collecting prescriptions encouraging them to return unwanted medicines. Customers who made returns were invited to complete a form summarising why the return was being made, details of which were passed to their general practitioners and to primary care organisations. Additional disposal bins were provided for the pharmacies and each supplied details of the returns made.

In total, 1,408 forms were completed. The main reason was that medicines were no longer required (45 per cent). Other reasons given (in percentages) included medication changed (17), out-of-date medicines (16), death of the user (11), medication not suitable (8) and user admitted to hospital (2).