KUALA LUMPUR, August 9 - Expired or unused medication can pose a significant threat if not disposed of correctly.

The director of University of Malaya Clinic Dr. Zuraidah Mohamed said that expired medication may have lost its effectiveness and can be dangerous if used.

“For example, using expired antibiotics can lead to treatment failure and increase the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria," Dr. Zuraidah Mohamed said.

Furthermore, she mentioned that if the medicine isnt stored properly, it can lead to the risk of poisoning.

"According to statistics from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM), there are approximately 1,000 cases of poisoning per year involving children under five years old due to accidental drug ingestion. This occurs when medications are not stored in a safe place," Dr. Zuraidah Mohamed added.

Therefore, the University of Malaya has taken the initiative to implement the "How to Safely Dispose of Your Expired or Unused Medicines?" programme, led by the University Malaya Clinic.

This programme provides education and awareness to all campus residents and the local community to manage medications more systematically, thus positively impacting the environment.

Surplus or expired medications can be brought to the University Malaya Clinic and placed in the special bins provided.

The types of medications accepted include capsules, liquids, creams, injections, and eye drops.

Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and lead researcher of Safe D.U.M.P, Dr. Lee Hong Gee, said that medications that are not disposed properly can seep into the soil and water sources, causing pollution and harming aquatic life and its surrounding ecosystem.

"The Department of Environment (DOE) has conducted studies on several rivers in Malaysia, such as Sungai Klang, Sungai Penchala, and Sungai Langat, and has found the presence of medications such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and diclofenac in river water samples.

“Therefore, it is very important for patients to finish medications prescribed by doctors and manage medication storage properly to avoid causing this pollution," Dr. Lee Hong Gee said.