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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Nadeem Badshah

Wasted medicine in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year, pharmacy group says

NHS England NPA Olivier Picard the National Pharmacy Association
A pile of assorted pills.
The National Pharmacy Association estimated that wasted medicine costs the NHS more than £480m annually. Photograph: Flavio Brancaleone/AAP

The amount of wasted medicines thrown away in England in one year could fill 75 swimming pools, according to a pharmacy group.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024-25.

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