The Ministry of Health of Kosovo has initiated the disposal of 150 tons of expired medicines and consumable materials stored at the Central Medicine Depot for over a decade. The contract for this process is valued at approximately €500,000 and, according to the agreement, is expected to be completed within one year.
Process Overview:
- 22 pallets (3,000 kg each) of expired laboratory consumables from the National Institute of Public Health (NIPHK) have been removed and loaded onto trucks by the contracted disposal company.
- All materials are weighed, recorded, and verified by responsible officials prior to disposal.
- The disposal process started with 50,000 kg of previously identified materials, including 30,000 kg from the Ministry of Health and 20,000 kg from NIPHK.
Additional Materials:
- The remaining 100,000 kg (100 tons) include unidentified items that the contractor must identify, register, and dispose of within the year.
- Unit costs vary: €2.80 per kg for identified materials and €3.50 per kg for items requiring identification and registration.
Transparency and Safety:
Jehona Leci-Ymeri, pharmacist at the Central Depot, emphasized:
“The process will be monitored from start to finish for transparency and safety. We have begun with verified materials from NIPHK and will continue with the Central Depot medicines.”
Background:
- Expired medicines and consumables were previously stored alongside valid medicines, posing a risk to inventory management.
- The last major disposal of expired medicines took place in 2011.
- Some medicines were donations, while others were purchased through public tenders.
- Past reports highlighted poor storage conditions, including inadequate lighting, ventilation, and segregation of expired and valid medicines.
This initiative represents a critical step toward improving safety and compliance in Kosovo’s pharmaceutical management system.
