Reducing Wasted Medicines Playbook

The Crisis of Wasted Medicines

Every year, billions of ready-to-use medicines are wasted, resulting in significant health, environmental, and financial impacts. Major pharmaceutical companies alone are estimated to destroy $11 billion worth of excess inventory annually. The causes are multifaceted, with a crucial challenge being the balance between maintaining surplus stock for reliable patient access and minimizing waste to prevent medicine shortages, reduce costs, and lessen environmental harms. Through expert interviews and secondary research, “Every Dose Used” details nine key drivers of pharmaceutical waste, including regulatory barriers, inaccurate demand forecasting, and inadequate data integration.

Actionable Strategies to Reduce Pharmaceutical Waste

“Every Dose Used” proposes 12 practical solutions to address wasted medicines, ranging from simple, independently implementable strategies to complex initiatives requiring sector-wide cooperation. Key strategies include optimizing inventory management, enhancing reallocation and donation processes, and improving data sharing across the sector.

Practical Guide for Action

The playbook also includes a six-point, step-by-step guide designed to help organisations build awareness, garner support, and develop tailored strategies that deliver measurable results.