Kerala Launches nPROUD: India’s First Safe Drug Disposal Program

The Kerala Health Department established nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs) as a system for proper handling of expired medicine and unused dose prescriptions. Such a systematic pharmaceutical waste management program has established Kerala as the pioneer among Indian states for the prevention of environmental pollution and health dangers stemming from wrong disposal practices.

Key Features of nPROUD

• The program initiated its operation through Kozhikode Corporation along with Ulliyeri Panchayat to serve 200,000 households.

Collection Methods:

• The medicine collection subsystem of nPROUD involves Haritha Karma Sena and Kudumbashree members who provide their services without charging fees to the public.

• Public members can dispose of pharmaceuticals using blue bins found inside medical establishments during the drop-off process.

• Blue Day special events serve to increase citizen involvement.

• KEIL (Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd) based in Ernakulam will scientifically burn all collected medicines through their incineration system.

• The waste medicine disposal service is free for homes but commercial operators including hospitals alongside retailers and wholesalers need to pay ₹40 for each kilogram disposed.

Background & National Impact

• The PROUD Initiative (2019) managed to gather 21 tonnes of unused drugs through its successful operation yet encountered expenses and logistical issues.

• Previous problems were solved through cooperation between the Clean Kerala Company Ltd. (CKCL) alongside the Drugs Control Department.

• nPROUD presents the prospects to become a national drug disposal blueprint since Delhi and Karnataka show interest in implementing a duplicate model.

Conclusion

Kerala introduced nPROUD to establish a blueprint for pharmaceutical waste management that will become a sustainable model for each Indian state. This initiative demonstrates Kerala's position as the leader in environmentally-conscious healthcare management by putting public health and environmental safety first.