Destruction of Controlled Drugs returned to the pharmacy by patients
The destruction of Controlled Drugs returned by patients is classified as waste treatment and would normally require a waste management licence. Stock CDs are not regarded as waste until they are destroyed so there is no requirement for a waste management licence.
The Environment Agency is the regulatory authority for the waste legislation
in England and Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government also issues its own
regulations regarding waste disposal and has acknowledged that certain
activities undertaken in pharmacy are “low risk”. Having
considered the risks posed by the destruction of Controlled Drugs at
a pharmacy the agency has decided that it does not believe it is in the
public interest to expect pharmacies to obtain a waste management licence
for the destruction of patient-returned CDs. However, the Environment
Agency will keep the matter under review and may amend or revoke its
position at any time. Therefore, pharmacists should ensure that denaturing
is undertaken in a way that does not harm the environment or pose a risk
to staff.
In England, it is intended that during summer 2006, the groups of people
who are authorised to witness the destruction of CDs will be expanded
under authorisation by a department of state. In addition to the current
list it is expected that any officer of a health care organisation who,
for this purpose, is directly accountable to an executive officer of
the organisation will be authorised to witness the destruction of CDs.
This may include strategic health authority pharmacy leads, medical directors
and clinical governance leads.
The current of list of authorised witnesses for England is available
at the Department of Health website
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is the regulatory authority
for the waste legislation in Scotland.
Controlled Drugs returned by patients from their own homes and residential
homes, may be sorted, popped from blister packaging and denatured in
the pharmacy. Ideally, Controlled Drug denaturing kits should be used,
but where alternative methods are adopted, these should safeguard the
environment and the health of workers and other members of the public.
The current methods that can be used for denaturing CDs are included
in ‘Medicines, ethics and practice: a guide for pharmacists’.
It is good practice for pharmacists to keep a record of CDs returned
by patients.
Further guidance on the destruction of CDs and waste management is being
developed and will be made available on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
website.
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal