英国药学协会发布的最新报告揭示了英格兰地区严重的药物浪费问题。2024-25年度，英格兰地区丢弃的部分使用过的药物达3400吨，相当于可以填满75个游泳池的体积[1]。这些浪费每年至少给NHS造成4.8亿英镑的经济损失[1]。
英国药学协会主席奥利维尔·皮卡尔表示，"浪费的药物成本NHS每年损失巨大资金，本可以投入更好的患者服务"[1]。代表英国6000家独立社区药房的该协会呼吁患者进行更多的处方评审，避免过度订购不需要的药物[1]。赫特福德大学高级讲师拉莎·阿卜杜萨拉姆·埃尔沙维指出，剩余抗生素在家中被无医学建议地服用会导致抗菌素耐药性问题[1]。
为应对这一挑战，NHS England已通过NHS应用提供手机端处方管理功能[1]。
The National Pharmacy Association has released findings revealing that partially used medicines discarded across England in 2024–25 totaled 3,400 tonnes, equivalent to the volume of 75 swimming pools [1]. This pharmaceutical waste costs the NHS at least £480 million per year [1].
Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, which represents 6,000 independent community pharmacies across the UK [1], emphasized that the financial burden of wasted medicines represents resources diverted from patient care [1]. The organization is calling for more frequent prescription reviews to prevent patients from ordering unnecessary medications in excess [1]. Addressing the issue is critical not only for fiscal responsibility but also for environmental protection and combating antimicrobial resistance [1].
Dr. Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, a senior lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, highlighted that leftover antibiotics remaining in homes risk being taken without medical guidance, potentially contributing to antimicrobial resistance [1]. To mitigate waste, NHS England has introduced prescription management features through its mobile application [1].