Logística reversa dos resíduos de medicamentos descartados pela população nas farmácias: análise descritiva da cidade de Vitória da Conquista - BA

Abstract

Improper disposal of medicines can cause several problems for the environment and the population, due to the chemical substances and toxic properties presented by these wastes. In this problem, reverse logistics assists in the process of returning products after consumption and reinforces the manufacturer's responsibility to the consumer. The work in question aims to analyze the reverse logistics of medication waste discarded by the population in pharmacies in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. The methodology used was qualitative and quantitative, with the application of questionnaires in pharmacies and drugstores in the city of Vitoria da Conquista, using data made available by Health Surveillance. Regarding results, despite the availability of collectors and the training of employees, only 62.5% of establishments carry out reverse logistics. The majority of waste is sent for thermal treatment, although there is a lack of knowledge about the correct destination in some cases. The lack of awareness and incentive campaigns for the population, combined with the lack of dissemination methods by pharmacies, may explain the low demand from customers for disposing of medicines. Although employee training is high, there is a discrepancy between the number of trained establishments and those that effectively implement reverse logistics. With this, it is possible to conclude that the implementation and effectiveness of the reverse logistics process present significant challenges and variations in the city of Vitória da Conquista and the need for new studies to clarify and complement the data found.