Economic burden and patient-related determinants of medication waste in Saudi Arabia: evaluating re-dispensing initiatives for resource optimization
Sayraa A. Alshaikh
IntroductionGlobal medicine use rose 14% in 5 years, causing waste, financial loss, environmental damage, and limited access to therapies. Re-dispensing unused medications is possible, subject to legal and safety restrictions.ObjectiveTo estimate the economic cost of medication waste, characterize patient-related determinants associated with waste, and assess the potential for re-dispensing based on the quality of the returned medications.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted at King Abd