The Russian Environmental Operator (REO) has sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation outlining a plan to establish a nationwide system for collecting packaging from medicines and expired medications. The publication known as News reports this development as a concrete proposal from REO aimed at improving waste management in the pharmaceutical sector.
Sources indicate that similar letters are expected to follow to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, commonly known as Rospotrebnadzor. The ongoing correspondence signals a coordinated, cross-departmental effort to address packaging waste and the safe handling of obsolete drugs across multiple public agencies.
The core idea involves deploying dedicated waste collection points for pharmaceutical packaging in key locations such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Realizing this plan would require amendments to sanitary rules to enable the proper placement and operation of these containers, along with clear guidelines for their maintenance, handling, and eventual disposal or recycling of collected materials.
Viktoria Presnyakova, who heads the Association of Independent Pharmacies, commented during a meeting about the potential impact on day-to-day operations. She noted that if pharmacies are tasked with collecting and disposing of pharmaceutical waste from the public, the associated costs could rise noticeably. The commentary highlights the practical considerations that come with expanding waste management responsibilities for retail health providers, including funding, staffing, and training needs.
Earlier communications from the Russian Ministry of Health mentioned a proposal to broaden an experimental program focused on ensuring expired products previously labeled as medicines cannot re-enter the market. That initiative seeks to tighten controls and prevent the circulation of outdated drugs, reinforcing public health safeguards while evaluating the effectiveness of temporary measures in real-world settings.