Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the disposal of sharps bins for injectable medicines purchased privately, including GLP-1 medicines, and what action it is taking to ensure that these medicines are being disposed of safely.
Disposal of privately-prescribed medicines are outside Health Boards’ remit, therefore Scottish Government would not enter discussions with Boards on this topic. Safe disposal of waste associated with privately-prescribed medicines, including sharps, is the responsibility of the Independent Healthcare (IHC) service that has supplied the medicine(s). The IHC service is expected to comply with current waste management legislation, including ensuring that clinical waste (including sharps bins) is appropriately segregated, handled and disposed-of, with the correct European Waste Catalogue (EWC) coding in place.