Expired medicines: the Farmaco Amico network helps prevent waste and donate them. Packages worth €670 were recovered throughout Italy (photo)

FRIENDLY DRUG

Every year, tons of expired drugs are disposed of. This waste has enormous economic and social costs. The imbalance between supply and demand for medicines has prompted a number of organizations in the sector to launch a project. Friendly Medicine, which since 2013 has been aiming at the recovery of medicines that have not yet expired and their distribution through a solidarity network spread across the Bologna area. The initiative was promoted by the Hera Group together with a series of partners: ANT Italia Onlus Foundation, Last Minut Market, Order of Pharmacists of Bologna, Municipality of Bologna, Local Health Authority of Bologna, Ascomfarma, Federfarma and AFM.

ALSO READ: Stop wasting medicines, here's how to donate them to help others

DRUG FRIENDLY ANT FOUNDATION

The first step for reduce pharmaceutical waste Improved medicine distribution was achieved. This was possible thanks to the commitment of thirty pharmacies that participated in the operation, ensuring consistent collection throughout the area.

Friendly Medicine combines sustainability and solidarity, involving institutions, businesses, and young citizens for the benefit of the community. Since 2013, when the ANT Foundation, Hera, Last Minute Market, and the Order of Pharmacists participated in the collection of reusable medications as part of the "Farmaco Amico" project, they have been able to collect and, for the most part, reuse medications worth a total of €200,000 in Bologna alone and €670,000 throughout Emilia Romagna. The medications must be deposited in special green containers provided by Hera at participating pharmacies. The ANT Foundation has acted as the link between the various partners involved, deploying its volunteers to periodically collect the medications. Furthermore, it carries out a thorough sorting of the collected materials, making them available to those in need. Surpluses are donated to non-profit organizations operating in local or decentralized cooperation projects, thus further extending the solidarity chainVarious organizations are involved: Opera Padre Marella, Sokos Association, Time4Life Onlus, We Are Onlus, and Friends of Ampasilava.

TO KNOW MORE: Medicine waste: we throw away 1 kg per person. A loss of €2 billion for the state and €400 per family.

THE FRIENDLY DRUG PROJECT

Last year, from January to December, 1111 kg of drugs were withdrawn and of these 653 kg (60%) were recovered for a value of approximately 200 thousand eurosThese significant figures have also had a significant impact on reducing hazardous waste. Extending the life cycle of medicines allows for broader and more equitable use. The project improves year after year and includes highly targeted awareness campaigns to engage a growing number of pharmacies and associations.

All the results obtained are collected by the ANT Foundation in a quarterly report. reporting which highlights the quantities recovered and the corresponding economic value. The numbers have nearly quadrupled in four years, demonstrating growing attention to the fight against pharmaceutical waste.

The project is competing for the 2018 edition of the Non Sprecare Award. To learn more about the competition and participate, go to here!

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THE PROJECTS COMPETING FOR THE NON SPRECARE AWARD:

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• Casa Jona, a community of mentally ill patients who recycle old bags. And become skilled artisans (photo)
• Funghi Espresso, a model company that uses coffee machine waste to produce excellent mushrooms. Use them in the kitchen, with many recipes (photos).
• EcoLo Tor, the project for recovering old athletic shoes. They're used to build new athletics tracks (photo)
• Solingo, the first Italian-made solar-powered moped. It's pollution-free, can reach speeds of 35 kilometers per hour, and has a range of 115 kilometers (photo).
• Neg: Personalized strategies to optimize energy consumption at home or in the company.