England faces massive medicine waste, enough to fill 75 swimming pools

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) — which represents 6,000 independent community pharmacies — analysed data from regional health bodies and estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024/25. The same analysis put the annual cost to the NHS at a minimum of £480 million.

The Independent

Wasting medicines diverts funds that could be invested in better patient services. Unused drugs, especially antibiotics, may be kept at home and taken later without medical advice, a practice that fuels antimicrobial resistance, a major public-health threat. Disposal of unopened medicines also creates environmental hazards, adding to the NHS’s broader sustainability challenges.

The Guardian

The NPA called for more frequent medication reviews, urging patients with multiple repeat prescriptions to have their treatments reassessed so that unnecessary medicines can be identified and removed. It also asked the public not to “over-order” medicines.

The Guardian

An NHS England spokesperson noted that the service has enabled prescription management through the NHS app and that several local NHS services are running campaigns to reduce waste. The spokesperson added that wider optimisation efforts have already seen a decline in the total number of dependency-forming medications prescribed over the past decade.

The Guardian

Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, senior lecturer in postgraduate medicine at the University of Hertfordshire, warned that medicine waste is not only a financial and environmental issue but also a patient-safety and resistance problem. She emphasized that regular medication reviews and ordering only what is needed protect patients, the NHS and the environment.

The Guardian

• “Wasted medicines cost the NHS significant sums of money every year that could be invested in better services for patients,” — Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association

The Independent

• “We are urging patients only to request medicines if they really need them when ordering repeat prescriptions,” — Mr Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association

The Independent