Israel Wastes Over $190 Million Annually in Unused Medications

An estimated 700 million shekels (approximately $190 million) worth of medications are discarded annually in Israel, according to a report in the "Calcalist" newspaper. A portion of these unused, yet still viable, medications are returned to health funds only to be destroyed instead of being repurposed.

The waste extends beyond the cost of the drugs themselves, as the biological disposal process incurs additional expenses for the state and health funds, which have already paid for the medications. The report highlights two main channels for returning unused medicines: collection bins operated by the health funds and collection bins managed by the "Friends of Medicine" association, found in various institutions and Super-Pharm branches.

While medications returned to health fund bins are typically destroyed, even if properly stored and unexpired, the "Friends of Medicine" association can inspect returned drugs and redistribute usable ones to families facing financial hardship. This discrepancy is attributed to a 2016 legal framework that permits the association to collect drugs from individuals and companies under specific conditions but prevents it from accessing medications deposited in health fund collection bins.

The "Friends of Medicine" association, with the help of volunteer pharmacists, sorts and distributes medications to thousands of families monthly. Last year alone, the association distributed medications valued at over 141 million shekels, demonstrating the potential savings and benefits of a structured redistribution system for unused drugs.

In response to the issue of medication waste, the Ministry of Health is reportedly working to reduce the amount of unneeded medication dispensed by enhancing pharmaceutical consultations offered by health funds, aiming to prevent waste before drugs reach the disposal stage. The significant financial losses underscore questions about the efficiency of healthcare spending in Israel, where purchased but unused medications become a wasted resource that could otherwise benefit patients in need.