National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines (NATRUM)

Overview

The National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines (NatRUM) Program (the Program) is an Australian Government initiative administered by the Department of Health that is designed to support activities that contribute to providing information to and raising awareness for health professionals and consumers to improve health outcomes of Australians. The Program commenced in 1998. The total value of funds available is $15.1 million from 2018-19 to 2021-22 (GST exclusive). The Program forms part of the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Program (Program 4.3) under the Individual Health Benefits Outcome (Outcome 4) of the Portfolio Budget Statements. Activities undertaken by the currently funded organisation include providing education services to health professionals and consumers on the quality use of medicines, including the safe disposal of unwanted medicines. The Program’s main priority aims to: Collect consumers expired and unwanted medicines through the Community Pharmacy network to help avoid, among other things, accidental childhood poisoning and medication misuse. This program contributes to the Quality Use of Medicines http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/nmp-quality.htm through the facilitation of a national service disposing of medicines in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, predominantly using high temperature incineration. Consumers are able to return their expired and unwanted medicines to any community pharmacy across Australia. There is no fee charged either to consumers or community pharmacies for this service. Quality Use of Medicines is one of the central objectives of Australia’s National Medicines Policy.