1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India
2Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India
3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India
4Department of Pharmacy Practice, Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India
5Department of Paediatrics, Sri Harsha Children's Hospital, Khammam, Telangana, India
*Corresponding Author: S. Monic Josephine Nithila, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Arulmigu Kalasalingam College of Pharmacy, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: pharmanithila@gmail.com
Background: Pharmaceuticals are indispensable in modern healthcare; however, improper storage and disposal practices pose significant threats to public health and the environment. Regulatory frameworks have therefore been developed at both international and national levels to ensure safe handling, storage, and environmentally sound disposal of medicines. These frameworks assign responsibilities to stakeholders across the pharmaceutical supply chain and aim to prevent misuse, accidental poisoning, environmental contamination, and antimicrobial resistance.
Objective: This review critically compares regulatory approaches to drug storage and disposal, focusing on India and international best practices, and highlights regulatory gaps and strategic directions for future improvement.
How to cite this article: Nithila SMJ, Venkateshan N, Unnamalai ASA, Kamalini K, Deepak M, Amirtha N, Surya GJ, Swathi D. Regulatory Approaches to Drug Storage and Disposal: A Comparative Review. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(13s): 365-372. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.13s.39
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None