Medicine waste in England estimated to cost NHS £480 million annually

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) reports that approximately 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines were disposed of in England during 2024/25. This volume of wasted medicine is estimated to cost the NHS at least £480 million annually.

NPA Chairman Olivier Picard stated that these funds could be better invested in patient services. Experts, including Dr. Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy from the University of Hertfordshire, warned that medicine waste poses environmental risks and contributes to antimicrobial resistance when leftover antibiotics are taken without medical advice.

To combat the issue, the NPA is urging patients to avoid "over-ordering" repeat prescriptions and is calling for more frequent medication reviews. In Scotland, the government and NHS Scotland have implemented strategies such as the "Realistic Medicine" initiative and sustainability-focused prescribing guidance to reduce pharmaceutical waste.