Under nPROUD, 21 tonnes of unused or expired drugs from Kozhikode sent for disposal

The net weight of the drugs collected was around 24 tons.

Until now, the Drug Control Department has sent around 21 tons of unused or expired medications, collected from various sources in Kozhikode Corporation, to Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd. (Keil) under the new program for the elimination of unused drugs (NPROUD) launched in February.

According to the sources, four methods were used to carry the project forward. Through the line collection, unused or expired medications were collected from wholesale distributors. The centers were installed in five places in the city once in February and twice in March for the temporary collection. How blue drop in blue boxes 168 Axis 168 were installed in different parts where drugs could be deposited through the march. They were collected from houses in a basic neighborhood by Haritha Karma Sena Volunteers on designated dates.

Around 14 tons have been collected through the line collection method, five tons through the temporary collection and five tons through the household collection. The net weight of the drugs collected was around 24 tons, and around 21 tons were sent to Keil for scientific elimination. Shaji Varghese, a drug assistant controller, said a large amount of drugs on Tuesday was collected for the first time.

The initiative was launched as a pilot project in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Grama Panchayat. Although household collection has been completed in Kozhikode Corporation, the collection data of the fall box are in the process of being tabulated. Work on the Begen project in Ulliyeri on April 1. It is expected that it will be extended throughout the state depending on the response to the pilot project. The Medication Control Department will guarantee the safe elimination of medications in line with the Biomedical Waste Management Law and its rules.

Health Department officials say that non -scientific elimination of unused or expired medications in normal waste or water bodies or soil is contributing to antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution. The active chemical ingredients in such drugs could be filtered in the groundwater or enter the food chain.