Petition · past parliament
Stop medicine wastage Give our unused medicines to developing countries in need
Closed
42 signatures
What the petition asks
Tons of unused medicines are returned to pharmacies every year. These medicines are incinerated rather than re-issued.
Meanwhile developing countries are rife with counterfeit medicines.
Giving our unused unopened medicines to developing countries would relieve sufferring and harm.
Meanwhile developing countries are rife with counterfeit medicines.
Giving our unused unopened medicines to developing countries would relieve sufferring and harm.
When a medicine is returned to a pharmacy in the UK for whatever reason, we assume that it can't be re-used. This is not so.
Medicine wastage in the UK costs the NHS around £300 million with £110 million of pharmaceuticals returned unopened & unused to pharmacies every year. Instead of re-issuing these medicines they are incinerated.
These drugs should be given to developing countries across the world in the fight against counterfeit medicines which are rife and are causing actual harm.
Medicine wastage in the UK costs the NHS around £300 million with £110 million of pharmaceuticals returned unopened & unused to pharmacies every year. Instead of re-issuing these medicines they are incinerated.
These drugs should be given to developing countries across the world in the fight against counterfeit medicines which are rife and are causing actual harm.
Timeline
| 15 Oct 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 15 Apr 2019 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
42
Status
Closed
Opened
15 Oct 2018
Closed
15 Apr 2019
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.