Billions in Unused Medication Accumulate Annually in France, Audit Reveals
Paris – Up to 1.7 billion euros worth of unused pharmaceuticals are discarded each year in France, according to a new report from the Court of Auditors released September 4, 2024.The findings come as the government seeks to curtail healthcare expenditures by approximately five billion euros in the coming year, intensifying scrutiny of waste within the system.
The audit highlights significant inefficiencies in the management of health products - encompassing both medications and medical devices – and proposes a series of recommendations to minimize waste and optimize resource allocation. This issue impacts the French social security system, straining public funds and potentially diverting resources from essential healthcare services. The report’s recommendations aim to address these concerns, with a focus on encouraging manufacturers to rethink packaging and expiration dates, and improving the recovery of components from discarded medical equipment like walkers.
In 2023 alone, health products accounted for 36.05 billion euros in health insurance costs, with medicines representing 25.26 billion euros and medical devices contributing 10.79 billion euros. The Court of Auditors suggests that greater emphasis should be placed on reusing, rehabilitating, or recycling medical devices to reclaim valuable components.
The report’s proposals are now under consideration by the government as it develops strategies to achieve its enterprising spending reduction targets. Further details and the full report are available from the Court of Auditors.