Questions/Statement

Frequency

Percentage

Have you ever heard about medicine waste?

Yes

No

355

29

92.5

7.7

If yes, which one of the following can be considered as medicine waste (multiple answers allowed)? n = (355)

Expired medicines

Leftover medicines due to some reasons

Damaged medicines that cannot be used

Opened medication and beyond its recommended use date

341

148

242

273

88.8

38.5

63.0

71.1

Do you ever read medicines disposal instructions?

No

Yes

304

80

79.2

20.8

Do you know about the “drug-take-back system”?

No

Yes

356

28

92.7

7.3

Do you know that misused/repeated change or failure to complete antibiotics may cause drug resistance?

No

Yes

32

352

8.3

91.7

Improper disposal of unused and expired medicines can affect the environment and health.

No

Yes

15

369

3.9

96.1

What do you think is the possible harm associated with inappropriate medicine disposal?

It can contaminate the environment

It can kill wildlife

Can cause accidental swallowing by children

358

151

362

93.2

39.3

94.3

How can the hazardous effects of unused and expired medicines be minimized or controlled?

Providing proper guidance to the consumer

Prescribing in quantities and for duration that ensure patient compliance

Lowering the number of prescribed medicines by doctor

Donating or sharing unused medicines

370

305

70

188

96.4

79.4

18.2

49.0

Who do you think is responsible for creating public awareness about the proper disposal of unused and expired medicines (multiple answers allowed)?

Mass media

Physician

Pharmacists

The pharmaceutical industry

275

306

360

184

71.6

79.7

93.8

48.0