In the Guardian today, the above and:

The amount of wasted medicines thrown away in England in one year could fill 75 swimming pools, according to a pharmacy group.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024-25.

The organisation, which analysed data from regional health bodies, also estimated that the problem costs the NHS at least £480m annually.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/08/wasted-medicine-in-england-could-fill-75-swimming-pools-a-year-pharmacy-group-says

Has the Scottish Government done anything to prevent or reduce this?

Yes, the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have taken multiple steps focused on preventing and reducing medicines waste, through policy guidance, medication reviews, sustainability strategies, local campaigns, and ongoing pilots.

Key Scottish efforts include:

• Realistic Medicine, value-based prescribing, and polypharmacy guidance: These emphasize shared decision-making, regular person-centred medication reviews (using a 7-Steps approach), appropriate initiation of medicines, and deprescribing where suitable. This aims to cut harm, waste, and unwarranted variation. Guidance such as “Medicines – achieving value and sustainability in prescribing” (December 2024) targets low-clinical-value medicines and promotes efficient use. Quality Prescribing Guides (including for respiratory conditions) incorporate environmental sustainability, as medicines account for a substantial share of NHS Scotland’s carbon footprint (around 25% in some estimates). https://www.gov.scot/policies/health-improvement/effective-prescribing-and-therapeutics/
• Climate and sustainability strategies: The NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy (2022-2026) explicitly addresses pharmaceutical waste via improved prescribing, regular reviews, deprescribing, education, and patient support. It notes that better processes reduce environmental harm. A sustainable prescribing group was due to start meeting from March 2026, and there is work on environmental impacts in prescribing workshops and guidance. https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2022/08/nhs-scotland-climate-emergency-sustainability-strategy-2022-2026/documents/nhs-scotland-climate-emergency-sustainability-strategy-2022-2026/nhs-scotland-climate-emergency-sustainability-strategy-2022-2026/govscot%3Adocument/nhs-scotland-climate-emergency-sustainability-strategy-2022-2026.pdf
• Pilots and monitoring: As of early 2026 reporting in the Value Based Health and Care Action Plan Measurement Framework, the Scottish Government was running a pilot to monitor medicines adherence (with a dashboard for shared decision-making; interim results expected Autumn 2026) specifically “to avoid medicines waste.” Related work includes pharmacogenomic testing integration into reviews and Clinical Decision Support tools. https://www.gov.scot/publications/value-based-health-care-action-plan-measurement-framework/pages/14/
• Local NHS board campaigns and practical measures: Multiple boards run “only order what you need” public campaigns. Examples include NHS Grampian (2024 campaign noting ~1 in 10 medicines wasted Scotland-wide and over 50 tonnes incinerated locally yearly), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (campaign highlighting ~£100,000 daily waste costs, with patient surveys and resources), NHS Orkney, NHS Borders, NHS Highland, and others. Advice commonly covers checking supplies before reordering, updating repeat lists, checking bags before leaving pharmacies (as medicines cannot be reused once taken), returning unused/out-of-date medicines to community pharmacies for safe disposal (not flushing or binning), and taking personal medicines into hospital. Estimates often cite ~1 in 10 medicines wasted and substantial annual costs (e.g., hundreds of millions Scotland-wide in older figures). https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/nhs-grampian-launches-new-campaign-to-reduce-medicine-wastag-355774/
• Disposal infrastructure and waste management: NHS boards fund or contract community pharmacies to accept returned patient medicines for safe high-temperature incineration (not reuse, for safety/regulatory reasons). Guidance such as NHSScotland Waste Management Guidance (SHTN 03-01) covers medicinal waste handling. Broader circular economy and waste prevention work exists, though medicines reuse remains limited/restricted.

Scotland estimates similar proportional waste challenges and has framed action around both cost savings and environmental/patient-safety benefits.