Our Work in Pharmaceuticals

HCWH Europe is raising awareness and advocating for stronger action on the issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment. We are working for the reduction of prescribed pharmaceuticals, endorsing take back schemes of unused pharmaceuticals, supporting the adoption of innovative wastewater treatment methods and promoting green pharmacy. Read the HCWH Europe Position Statement on pharmaceuticals to find out more.

HCWH Europe advocacy work can be broken down in respect to four different objectives:

  • reduction in quantity of prescribed medicines
  • establishment of collection schemes for unused medicines
  • promotion of innovative wastewater treatment methods
  • advancement of green pharmacy.

HCWH Europe identified a need for finding and sharing quality information around the damage pharmaceuticals are doing to the environment and human health. We created the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Resource Centre, an open-access site to increase public understanding of the issues surrounding pharmaceuticals in the environment and to highlight ways to reduce their impact by promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship.

In 2014, HCWH Europe produced a guide for doctors on reducing pharmaceutical pollution. This describes the evironmental problems related to pharmaceuticals in the environment and gives advice on simple practices that can help reduce this problem.

In December 2013, HCWH Europe published a snapshot report on collection schemes for unused pharmaceuticals in Europe. A 100% effective collection scheme would leave only the drugs, which pass through the body either unaltered or as active metabolites of the original compound and could contribute to reduce the introduction of pharmaceuticals in the environment.

HCWH Europe has also been advocating for the introduction of quality standards for pharmaceuticals in surface and groundwater (FAQ on the revised Priority Substances Directive & Briefing on the revised Priority Substances Directive) and for the introduction of environmental concerns in the pharmacovigilance legislation.

Since 2013, we have been a member of the Working Group on Chemicals of the Water Framework Directive and a stakeholder with the European Medicines Agency (EMA)