Jalandhar: Have you ever thought how dangerous the expired medicines lying in the cupboard or box of your house can be? Most people do not think. In a big city like Jalandhar, where there are many modern hospitals and medical stores, about 80 percent of the people do not even know where and how to throw expired medicines. These medicines go directly into the garbage or drains, from where they cause serious harm to humans, animals and the environment. Expired medicines turn into poisonous chemicals over time. If they are not disposed of properly, their effect can make the soil, water and even the air poisonous. Despite this, neither a solid collection system has been made for such medicines in Jalandhar nor awareness campaigns have been run on a large scale.
Lack of awareness
In the streets of the city, in the mohallas and even in the posh areas, people can be seen throwing expired medicines in the general garbage. Many times these medicines are directly thrown in the drains. Some people think that throwing them in the water will be the end of the matter and these medicines are seeping into the ground and making the water poisonous. More than 80 percent of the people are not even aware of the dangers that can be caused by throwing such medicines in the household garbage. Neither in schools nor in health centers, any effort is being made to spread awareness about this. Some private hospitals or pharmacies have installed medicine drop boxes at their level, but this is not enough for the entire city population.
Disadvantages
Danger of death of animals: In every mohalla in Jalandhar, stray cattle or dogs keep roaming on the garbage heaps. The chemicals of expired medicines enter their bodies and directly affect them, which can even lead to their death. Water and soil pollution: Medicines flushed down the drains reach rivers and underground water directly through the city’s sewerage system. This can also make drinking water poisonous, which is a serious threat to human health. These medicines go into the soil and harm its fertility.
What do the rules say?
Under the Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 in India, institutions like hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, diagnostic labs and medical colleges have to safely collect the medical waste generated by them and deliver it to the authorized treatment facility. According to these rules, separate medicine drop boxes or other containers can be kept for medicines in pharmacies and hospitals, so that patients can return their old or expired medicines. But there is no clear policy in the rules of India yet for expired medicines coming out of homes. This is the reason why no official or systematic system has been created even in a big city like Jalandhar. No concrete plan has been implemented by the Municipal Corporation or the Health Department to install medicine drop boxes at big hospitals, dispensaries and medical stores in the city. Whatever efforts are being made are at the level of private institutions or social workers.
What can be done at present?
Experts say that until a concrete system is implemented, every person will have to understand his responsibility.
Wrap the medicines with soil, used tea leaves or coffee and throw them in a sealed packet, so that animals or children cannot take them out.
Do not throw medicines in drains, toilets or open garbage at all.
Return medicines where there is a pharmacy return policy.
The public will also have to raise their voice
The people of the city will have to raise their voice so that the Municipal Corporation and the Health Department can take steps in this direction. Until the administration takes concrete steps, people themselves will have to change their habits. Because throwing away expired pills lying in the cupboard of the house can prove fatal for someone’s life.
