[Return of unused drugs to pharmacies]

For the first time unused drugs have been analyzed in Switzerland. The two non profit organizations MEDI HELP DIRECT in Zurich and Pharmaciens sans Frontières in Neuchâtel collected the unused drugs with the aim to examine the quality and the quantity of the medication returned to the pharmacies. In both cantons about 5000 units have been registered and examined with the respect to shelf-life, contents, requirement of prescription and reimbursement by health companies. Two thirds of the drugs have 50-100% contents left over. Prescribed medicines returned faster to the pharmacies and are less often expired.