Indonesia

Following the tsunami of December 2004, Indonesia received vast quantities of medical aid in the form of pharmaceuticals. WHO, working in collaboration with the Government and NGOs was trying to help the authorities to gain control over the thousands of tonnes of pharmaceuticals that had been supplied. It became clear over time that many of the chemicals were obsolete, unusable or unwanted and were placing a burden on the local administration and rehabilitation efforts.

The WHO asked FAO to assist them in developing a solution to the obsolete pharmaceuticals problem based on FAO experience in dealing with obsolete pesticides.

FAO Obsolete Pesticides Programme, in collaboration with WHO, worked in Banda Aceh, Indonesia where a regional workshop was organized on the management of hazardous waste in the health and agricultural sectors. Participants in the workshop included delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Lest. Recommendations included adherence to the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and environmentally sound management of obsolete pesticides along with wastes from the health sector.

Recommendations were made on the management of the waste pharmaceuticals and also on a donor policy in response to emergencies that WHO was advised to develop.