Kerala Unveils nPROUD for Safe Drug Disposal

The Kerala Health Department has launched the nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs) initiative, a significant step toward addressing the safe disposal of expired and unused medicines. This program aims to prevent environmental hazards and health risks caused by improper disposal of pharmaceuticals. Kerala is the first state in India to introduce such a systematic, government-led initiative for drug disposal.

How Will nPROUD Work?

The nPROUD initiative is designed to collect unused and expired medicines from households and medical stores to ensure safe and scientific disposal. The program will begin as a pilot project in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat, covering around 200,000 households and numerous pharmacies. The plan is to expand it across the state gradually.

Household Collection: Volunteers from Haritha Karma Sena and Kudumbashree will visit homes to collect unused medicines at no cost. This will also help in spreading awareness about the dangers of antimicrobial resistance.

Pharmacy Participation: Medical stores will have blue bins where people can drop their unused drugs. However, commercial entities like retailers, wholesalers, and hospitals will have to pay ₹40 per kilogram for disposal services.

Special Drives for Collection: To increase participation, the initiative will include “Go Blue Day” events, where pre-scheduled collection drives will take place at designated locations.

Safe Disposal Process: All collected medicines will be scientifically incinerated at the Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) facility in Ernakulam, ensuring compliance with environmental safety norms.

What Led to the Launch of nPROUD?

The nPROUD program builds on the earlier PROUD (Programme on Removal of Unused Drugs) initiative launched in 2019 by the State Drugs Control Department and the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA).

The PROUD project successfully collected 21 tonnes of unused drugs in Thiruvananthapuram, which were sent to a Mangaluru facility for incineration. However, the program faced challenges due to the lack of a biomedical waste treatment plant in Kerala and high transportation costs for sending waste to other states. These factors limited the expansion of PROUD.

To resolve these issues, the Kerala government signed an agreement between Clean Kerala Company Ltd (CKCL) and the Drugs Control Department. This collaboration led to the formation of nPROUD, addressing previous logistical and financial challenges.

Will nPROUD Be a Model for Other States?

The nPROUD initiative is the first of its kind in India, setting an example for other states. Health authorities in Delhi and Karnataka have already shown interest in adopting similar models. The Kerala government hopes this initiative will inspire national policy changes, making drug disposal a mandatory practice across India.

The official launch of nPROUD is set for February 22, 2025, in Kozhikode, led by Health Minister Veena George. With its focus on public health and environmental protection, nPROUD is expected to serve as a blueprint for nationwide implementation.

Kerala’s nPROUD Initiative: Key Highlights