Assessment of Pharmaceutical Waste Management Practices in Community Pharmacies in Abuja, FCT

The improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste from community pharmacies poses significant microbiological and environmental risks, including the promotion of antimicrobial resistance in receiving ecosystems. This study assessed pharmaceutical waste management practices in 40 registered community pharmacies in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, North Central Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to pharmacy managers, and direct observational assessment of waste handling, segregation, storage, and disposal practices was conducted. Microbiological sampling of waste disposal bins and adjacent surfaces was performed to characterize pathogen loads and antibiotic-resistant organisms associated with inadequate waste handling. Results indicated that only 32.5 percent of pharmacies practiced source segregation of pharmaceutical from general waste. Thirty percent disposed of expired medicines through municipal solid waste streams without prior deactivation. Microbiological analysis revealed ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) in waste bin surfaces at 40 percent of pharmacies. None of the surveyed pharmacies had documented pharmaceutical waste management plans. Awareness of NAFDAC pharmaceutical waste disposal guidelines was low among pharmacy staff (27.5%). These findings reveal systemic weaknesses in pharmaceutical waste governance at the community pharmacy level and highlight the need for mandatory waste management training, regulatory inspections, and provision of designated pharmaceutical waste collection systems in Abuja's pharmacy sector. Keywords: pharmaceutical waste, community pharmacy, antimicrobial resistance, NAFDAC, Abuja.