Collection drive for expired medicines

Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation will join the PROUD (Programme for removal of unused drugs) with its first collection drive for expired medicines on Saturday.
It will be a joint initiative of the corporation, state drugs control department and All-Kerala chemists and druggists association. The drive will be held from 8am to 12pm at material recovery centres and special collection counters of the corporation. Old clothes will also be collected on the day.
Special collection centres will function at ward committee office, Kazhakkoottam; Sreekaryam petrol pump, Kadakampally health inspector’s office; YMA, Chackai’; Vanchiyur Junction; Putharikandam ground; Engineering college, Pappanamcode; Pippinmoodu Junction; and Sasthamangalam.
PROUD initiative was initially launched with 15 boxes at Medical College and it was later introduced at General Hospital with 10 boxes.
“We are planning to have around 100 boxes in the next one month in the district. Eight boxes have already been placed in Neyyatinkara,” said Ravi Menon, state drugs controller. He said that with city corporation becoming a part of the initiative, the collection could be extended to more centres and on a regular basis. “Our current plan is to place collection boxes in medical shops. There is a chance that people misuse the boxes and hence we are choosing medical shops. Boxes are also being planned for corporation offices where people can deposit expired medicines on a daily basis,” added Menon.
The expired medicines being collected will be sent to Mangalapuram . A private firm has agreed to collect the medicines at Rs 20 per kg. The drugs control department is also in talks with pharmaceutical companies to implement extended producer responsibility for running the collection system. tnn