Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Posted by ma403
29 November 2023The Pharma Pollution Hub: finding solutions to reduce the environmental impact of medicines used in UK healthcare
– Dr Kelly Thornber
Pharmaceuticals are a key component of our healthcare system, and the pharmaceutical sector is important for our economy. But up to 90% of the medicines we consume end up in our wastewater. These pollutants can affect the health of wildlife that are already vulnerable due to climate change, habitat loss, and other types of pollution. They can also contribute to biodiversity loss and drive antimicrobial resistance. In this way, pharmaceutical pollution threatens the long-term sustainability of both our healthcare services and our pharmaceutical industry.
The Pharma Pollution Hub is a new independent think tank based at the University of Exeter. We
bring together thought leaders from across academia, industry, government and the civil sector, to co-develop solutions for reducing the environmental impact of medicines used in UK healthcare, through a systems thinking and engaged research approach. Our work spans the whole of the pharmaceutical life cycle, including population health and culture, pharmaceutical design and manufacture, healthcare decision-making and use, and environmental monitoring and management.
Our Consortium brings together stakeholders from across industry, government, academia and the civil sector, and together we are developing a UK Roadmap for Action in reducing the environmental impacts of medicines used in UK healthcare. We are also creating a Research for Change Agenda, outlining the priorities for the research sector, and we run Think Tank Workshops to explore specific challenges in more detail.
The Hub Co-Directors are Dr Kelly Thornber and Prof Charles Tyler, based within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Exeter. Please see our website for more information.