ASHP Suggests Broad Improvements to Proposed EPA Survey on Drug Disposal

11/18/2008

ASHP suggested sweeping revisions to improve an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed survey that analyzes pharmaceutical waste management at healthcare facilities.

The Society encouraged the EPA to obtain prospective data from the facilities instead of the proposed retrospective data to ensure accuracy and minimize the burden of data collection by the facilities. Many institutions don’t maintain data requested in the survey, such as the number of dispensed tablets for each drug, ASHP warned.

The “Study of Unused Pharmaceuticals from Medical and Veterinary Facilities,” seeks information from a 30-day period in 2007 and aims to improve pharmaceutical waste disposal and assess how much of it is being discharged into U.S. waters.

In comments to the EPA, ASHP also said government classification systems for drug disposal are incomplete and contradictory and would limit the capabilities of facilities to respond to the survey accurately. In light of those problems, the EPA should not issue criminal fines or civil penalties to facilities that file surveys late or don’t comply with its instructions, the Society said.

ASHP's guidelines recommend safe practices for the preparation, administration, and disposal of hazardous drugs.