UK government takes action on medicine wastage and improving medicine use

A new group set up to tackle the £300 million ($490 million) lost every year in the UK’s National Health Service because of medicine wastage has been announced by Health Minister Lord Howe. The group will also identify how people can be better supported in taking their medicines as prescribed - helping to improve their long-term health outcomes and ensuring better value for the NHS.

On top of the £300 million lost due to medicine wastage, at least half of which is avoidable, the cost to the NHS of people not taking their medicines properly and not getting the full benefits to their health is estimated at more than £500 million a year.

Lord Howe said: ‘“We want to look at how patients can make the most of the medicines they take. This isn’t just about saving money - most importantly, it is about making sure that patients stay well and get the best outcomes from their medicines. Every pound wasted is a pound that could be spent on treating patients. By reducing medicine wastage the NHS will save money that can be spent in other areas of patient care.”