Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals are vital for many people and consequently are one of the most powerful tools used within healthcare. When pharmaceuticals find their way into the environment, however, they can have a detrimental impact on plants and animals and, in the long term, also on people.

There is still a lack of knowledge about how pharmaceutical residues will affect the environment and human health in the long term. However, it is known that hormone-disrupting substances affect the reproduction of fish and other aquatic organisms.

Several pharmaceuticals that are used to alleviate pain and reduced inflammation, in particular diclofenac, have been shown to be harmful to the environment even at low levels. Diclofenac has also demonstrated an increased risk of cardiovascular side-effects. Antibiotics are normally effective against infections in people and animals, but if they are used too much, bacteria can become resistant. Quinolones are a type of antibiotic that have a broad spectrum, which means that they act on many different types of bacteria. Quinolones are very difficult to break down in the environment, and the link between the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance is well established. 

Region Västernorrland will minimise the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals without affecting patient benefit. Through increased knowledge about the environmental impact of the pharmaceuticals, consideration is being given to the environment when selecting pharmaceuticals in conjunction with procurement and the writing out of prescriptions. If there is a choice between two pharmaceuticals that have the same effect, the alternative that has the least detrimental environmental impact should be selected. When discarding pharmaceuticals within the county, they must be handled optimally.

Nitrous oxide (N2O), or laughing gas, is used for pain relief, chiefly during childbirth,
As laughing gas has a 310 times greater climate impact than carbon dioxide, its emissions have a significant environmental impact. Region Västernorrland is reducing emissions through the installation of destruction facilities in hospitals.

Vision 2024

Region Västernorrlandwill contribute to minimising the dispersion of environmentally
harmful pharmaceutical residues to the ground, water or air.

Goals 2019

• The prescribing of sleeping drugs will be reduced compared to 2013.
• The prescribing of fluoroquinolones will be reduced compared to 2013.
• The prescribing of diclofenac will be reduced compared to 2013.
• The amount of pharmaceuticals being discarded within the Region Västernorrland will be reduced annually.
• Destruction facilities for laughing gas will be installed in all hospitals with maternity departments.