Wasted medicine in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year, pharmacy group says

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The amount of wasted medicines thrown away in England in one year could fill 75 swimming pools, according to a pharmacy group. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024-25. The organisation, which analysed data from regional health bodies, also estimated that the problem costs the NHS at least £480m annually. Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “Wasted medicines cost the NHS significant sums of money every year that could be invested in better services for patients. “More than this, wasting medicines can have environmental and health consequences, and we can do much more to tackle this…

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