E-drug: Disposal of expired drugs (cont'd)
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South Africa has comprehensive regulation governing the disposal
of waste. These are enshrined in:
Medical and related substances act 1965 (act 101 of 1965), and
Handling and disposal of waste materials within health care facilities
SABS 0248:1993.
The regulations make a distinction between cytoxic pharmaceutical
and non-cytoxic pharmaceuticals. Within the latter there is a further
distinction between
- Antibiotics and antiseptics
- Narcotics and other controlled drugs
- Biologicals including vaccines
- Radio pharmaceuticals
In practical terms the preferred means of disposal is by high
temperature incineration; in the case of cytotoxics, which cannot
be incinerated, they should be chemically deactivated.
In some cases disposal in designated land-fill sites is permitted.
There are regulations set down for such sites and these are set
down in Waste Management Series: Minimum requirements for
the handling and disposal of hazardous waste. Department of
Water Affairs and Forestry 1994.
Routine health services should not generate large quantities of
condemned drugs, so for practical purposes at the clinic level
incineration along with other sharps, medical, clinical and
general waste is probably the simplest solution. For this to be
effectively achieved all waste must be segregated before
incineration and a record kept that incineration has taken place.
Anthony Battersby
FBA Health Systems Analysts
FBA@compuserve.com
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