The pilot project for the collection of expired medicines from the population, “Dispose of Medicines – Save the Planet”, launched by Farmak in cooperation with the “Apteka Dobrogo Dnia” pharmacy chain in Kyiv on November 1, 2023, has come to an end. We are now ready to scale it up.
The aim of the pilot project was to assess the relevance of the initiative, test the implementation mechanism, and evaluate public readiness for this new eco-conscious practice.
The results exceeded our expectations. During the pilot phase alone, more than 6,402 kilograms and 7,750 liters of expired medications were collected from just 30 pharmacies in Kyiv.
We received numerous positive responses and one key question echoed the most:
“When will this initiative be available in other cities?”
The project confirmed:
Expired medications that are thrown away or poured into the sewage system can contaminate water and soil, disrupt ecosystems, and eventually make their way back to people through the food chain.
Particularly dangerous are the remnants of antibiotics — their uncontrolled release into the environment contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance, which is already a global public health threat.
The pilot project has concluded, and its further expansion requires state involvement.
Although the initiative has been fully funded by the business sector, its continued development is not possible without proper regulatory support and the backing of state authorities.
Farmak, the “Apteka Dobrogo Dnia” pharmacy chain, and our partners have already submitted proposals to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, and the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control.
We are open to cooperation and are awaiting a response.
We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this project — our partners, pharmacy employees, and the residents of Kyiv — everyone who supported the idea and made a difference.
Together, we proved that this system works. The next step is to make it nationwide.
