Pharmaceutical waste management in community pharmacies in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: An average community pharmacy in Lagos State, Nigeria, stocks between 2000 to 4000 drug items. A significant amount of waste has been found in both underground and drinking water from these drug items. Poor management of pharmaceutical wastes exposes the community to toxic environmental effects.

Objective: This study assessed the management of pharmaceutical wastes by community pharmacies in Lagos State.

Methods: The cross-sectional study among community pharmacists recruited participants through social media platforms or in person at the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) office during their visit.

Results: A total of 211 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 74.4% were aware of proper pharmaceutical waste management. Storage of pharmaceutical wastes were found to be both in the pharmacy and other specified places. About 41.7% were aware of the periodic requests for waste submission by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria while 48.3% were unaware. 71.6% of them generated wastes outside pharmaceutical wastes (chemicals, sharps, infectious) while 23.7% did not. Respondents generated wastes monthly (32.7%), nonregular (23.7%), quarterly (17.5%) and yearly (14.7%). About 43.1% disposed their wastes themselves and 21.3% disposed via regulatory agencies.

Conclusion: The level of awareness of appropriate pharmaceutical waste management is high but practice of standard disposal methods is low. Measures are needed to improve pharmaceutical waste management in Lagos State.