Kerala Leads in Scientific Disposal of Expired Medicines

In a significant step toward environmental sustainability and public health, Kerala is set to become the first state in India to scientifically collect and dispose of expired and unused medicines from households. The Kerala Drugs Control Department will officially launch the ‘nPROUD’ (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs) initiative on February 22, 2025. This government-led project aims to tackle the growing issue of pharmaceutical waste, which poses environmental hazards and health risks.

Why Is Safe Disposal of Medicines Important?

The improper disposal of expired and unused medicines is a serious concern. Many people dispose of medicines by throwing them in household waste or flushing them down the drain, which leads to soil and water contamination. This contamination can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making infections harder to treat and increasing health risks. Kerala’s initiative is designed to address this problem by setting up a structured system for the safe collection and disposal of unused drugs.

According to the Biomedical Waste Management Act and Rules, pharmaceutical waste must be handled properly to prevent environmental pollution. The nPROUD initiative will ensure that expired medicines are collected in a responsible manner and disposed of scientifically, following regulatory guidelines.

How Will the nPROUD Initiative Work?

The program will begin in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat in Kozhikode district before expanding statewide. The initiative will function through a three-step process:

1. Household Collection – Officials will visit homes at designated periods to collect unused medicines directly from residents.
2. Permanent Collection Points – Special blue-colored bins will be placed in public areas for easy disposal.
3. Collaboration with Local Bodies – The Haritha Karma Sena (Green Task Force) and local self-government institutions will play a key role in managing the collection process.

Once collected, the medicines will be transported to Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL), a waste treatment facility approved by both state and central environmental authorities. The initiative will ensure compliance with legal waste management standards while protecting public health.

What Inspired This Initiative?

The nPROUD initiative is built on the success of an earlier project called ‘PROUD’ (Programme on Removal of Unused Drugs), which was launched in Thiruvananthapuram in 2021. During this pilot phase, the program successfully collected and disposed of 21 tonnes of unused medicines. Seeing the effectiveness of the project, the Kerala government decided to expand the effort statewide with a more structured and comprehensive approach.

Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George has emphasized the significance of this project, stating that improper disposal of medicines is a major environmental and health hazard. She noted that the nPROUD initiative is a proactive step toward sustainable waste management, ensuring that expired medicines do not contribute to pollution or health risks.

This initiative sets a model for other states in India to follow, addressing a long-ignored issue of pharmaceutical waste. With proper implementation, Kerala’s efforts could pave the way for nationwide policies on medicine disposal, making India a leader in sustainable healthcare waste management.

Key Highlights of Kerala’s nPROUD Initiative