On Friday 10 April 2026, PREWAPHARM brought together stakeholders from the water, healthcare, research, and policy sectors for a policy symposium at Isala Hospital in Zwolle, the Netherlands. The symposium focused on a central question: how can European ambitions and directives be translated into national and regional action — and what can we already do together today to prevent pharmaceutical pollution in water?
From European policy to practical action
The symposium provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges surrounding pharmaceutical residues in water and the importance of connecting policy with practice. While European directives provide an important framework for action, their implementation requires cooperation across sectors and at different levels.
The Netherlands has a strong foundation for this collaboration. The country combines expertise in pharmaceutical care, water technology, research, and policy, creating opportunities to develop and implement innovative solutions. From source-oriented approaches and responsible medicine use to advanced filtration, water treatment, and data-driven monitoring, different parts of the system can contribute to preventing pharmaceutical pollution.
A whole-chain approach
Pharmaceutical pollution cannot be addressed through a single solution or by one sector alone. A whole-chain approach is needed to understand where interventions can have the greatest impact.
This starts with awareness and responsible use of medicines. Healthcare professionals and pharmacists can play an important role in informing patients and supporting appropriate use and disposal. At the same time, research and data can help identify where action is most needed, while innovative technologies can contribute to removing pharmaceutical residues from wastewater.
Within PREWAPHARM, partners from across North-West Europe are working on these different parts of the chain. The project brings together expertise from healthcare, pharmacy, research, water technology, and policy to develop practical and source-oriented solutions. By connecting these perspectives, PREWAPHARM aims to move beyond isolated interventions and explore how different approaches can complement one another.
The underlying principle is simple:
What does not enter the water system does not need to be removed.
Prevention at the source is therefore an important part of the solution. At the same time, effective water treatment technologies remain essential for addressing pharmaceutical residues that do enter the water cycle.
Working together across sectors
The symposium highlighted the importance of collaboration between stakeholders who each bring a different perspective to the challenge. Healthcare professionals understand medication use and patient needs. Researchers contribute evidence and new knowledge. Water experts develop and test treatment technologies. Policymakers help create the frameworks needed to support and scale effective solutions.
Bringing these perspectives together helps identify both opportunities and challenges. It also makes it possible to discuss what is technically feasible, what can be implemented in practice, and how solutions can be supported by the people and organisations involved.
And even an unexpected fire alarm could not stop the conversation. When participants had to leave the building, the discussion simply continued outside.
This PREWAPHARM Policy Symposium demonstrated the value of bringing different sectors together to discuss practical solutions for preventing pharmaceutical pollution in water. By strengthening collaboration across the whole chain, we can work towards frameworks that combine prevention, responsible medicine use, monitoring, and innovative water technologies.
Many thanks to all participants and partners who contributed to this valuable exchange!