Healthcare Workers Know the Problem but Don’t Act

Pharmaceutical Waste: A Silent Threat—What Doctors, Nurses and Interns Are Doing

A recent study in western Maharashtra surveyed 493 healthcare professionals at a large hospital to gauge their attitudes toward drug pollution and actual practices.

• Awareness vs. Action
• 89 % of staff acknowledge that pharmaceutical waste poses a significant environmental danger.
• Only 22 % consider ecological concerns when prescribing, and fewer than a third discuss safe disposal with patients.
• Over 60 % simply discard unused medications in the regular trash.

• Knowledge Doesn’t Translate to Practice
• Familiarity with textbook facts did not increase eco‑friendly advice.

• Senior consultants, who felt more confident speaking to patients, offered more guidance than newer graduates—even though the latter scored higher on tests.

• What Participants Want
• 91 % support a hospital take‑back program for unused medicine.
• 88 % call on drug companies to assume greater disposal responsibility.
• About three‑quarters seek hands‑on training on how to discuss environmental issues with patients.

Bottom Line: Awareness alone is insufficient. Hospitals must implement clear take‑back systems and provide communication training to make eco‑friendly prescribing a routine part of care.