Almost all Dutch healthcare professionals are willing to consider the environmental impact of medicines when prescribing. But a recent study shows that many lack the knowledge, information, and guidelines needed to put this into practice.
A nationwide survey among 440 prescribers found that 97% would consider prescribing an equally effective medicine with a lower environmental impact. At the same time, two-thirds indicated that they do not know whether a medicine contains PFAS, while 60% identified a lack of clear guidelines as a barrier to sustainable prescribing.
These findings show that there is a willingness to act; but healthcare professionals need the right information and tools to make sustainable choices part of everyday practice.
Our Interreg Northwest Europe project PREWAPHARM is trying to close this gap by developing mitigation strategies and water technological solutions for these relevant priority medicines with greater environmental impact.
Reducing pharmaceutical pollution starts at the source. By bringing together healthcare professionals, pharmacists, researchers, water experts and policymakers, we are working towards practical solutions that can help prevent pharmaceutical residues from entering our water systems in the first place. What doesn’t enter the water systems, doesn’t need to be taken out!
The above-mentioned study was conducted by UMCG as part of the EFRO-funded intersectoral project, "Noord Nederland koploper in de verwijdering van medicijnresten uit water", focused on developing technological solutions to reduce pharmaceutical residues in water.
Given the current international attention on water quality, the findings of UMCG have also been communicated by Dutch media, including NOS and Trouw.
Read the original Dutch article by UMCG: https://nieuws.umcg.nl/w/duurzamer-voorschrijven-medicijnen