Kerala Becomes First in India to Launch ‘nPROUD’ Project for Scientific Disposal of Unused Medicines

News Desk

10 March 2025 02:55 PM

Kerala has become the first state in the country to implement the ‘nPROUD’ project, designed to scientifically collect and safely dispose of expired and unused medicines. Launched by the State Drugs Control Department, the initiative—named nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs)—will facilitate the collection of unused medicines from households and ensure their proper disposal at designated locations.

The first phase of the nPROUD project was launched in Kozhikode Corporation and Ulliyeri Panchayat in Kozhikode district, with plans to expand the initiative statewide. During designated months, unused medicines will be collected directly from households. Additionally, the public can dispose of medicines at their convenience by placing them in blue collection boxes installed at permanent drop-off points.

Unused medicines from wholesale and retail establishments, as well as clinics, are to be delivered to designated collection centres at predetermined locations. The project is being carried out in collaboration with local governing bodies and members of the Haritha Karma Sena. Collected medicines will undergo scientific processing at a waste treatment facility approved by the Central and State Environment Departments. Notably, this is the first time such an initiative has been conceptualised and implemented at the government level in India.

In many cases, leftover medicines in households and expired, unsold stock in pharmacies are improperly disposed of, either burnt, buried, or discarded carelessly. Studies have shown that the unscientific disposal of expired and unused medicines, including their improper dumping into soil and water bodies, contributes to antimicrobial resistance, health hazards, and environmental pollution. According to regulations, unused medicines should be destroyed through incineration at a temperature of 1,200 degrees Celsius.

In response to these concerns, the Drugs Control Department has launched the nPROUD initiative to ensure the safe disposal of unused medicines in compliance with the Biomedical Waste Management Act and Rules. In 2019, the State Drugs Controller’s Department introduced the ‘Program on Removal of Unused Drugs’ to facilitate the scientific destruction of medicines. nPROUD is an enhanced version of this earlier initiative.

The nPROUD project aims to protect public health and the environment by preventing the unsafe disposal of medicines. Once expanded statewide, Kerala could set a national example in medical waste management.