Management and final disposal of expired medicines: an economic and public health problem

Objective. To analyze the regulations and availability of data to assess the volume, final disposition, and cost of expired medicines (EM) in Mexico. Materials and methods. The applicable legal framework is described, following a logical flowchart. To investigate the availability of data, the pages of Gobierno de Mexico related to the subject were consulted and 46 requests for information were made to federal and state agencies through the National Transparency Platform. In addition, contracts related to drug disposal were searched on Compranet (2019-2023). Results. The management of EM as hazardous waste is regulated by five General Laws, seven Norms, and other official documents; it involves two Secretariats, several Secretariat agencies, and pharmacy units. There is no official data on discarded EM, although its existence is regulated. The most frequent responses by transparency indicate incompetence or lack of data. In Compranet we identified only one specific contract for the disposition of EM in five years. Conclusion. There is no evidence of compliance with the profuse regulations found. The absence of recording and availability of data suggests little control over the economic and environmental implications of EM. It is necessary a transparent and committed with the environment, with control mechanisms and comprehensive management.