About 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines were estimated to have been thrown away in England in one year, pharmacies have said - enough to fill 75 swimming pools.
According to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which analysed data from local health bodies from 2024/25, wasted medicines cost the NHS at least £480m a year.
NPA chair Olivier Picard said that the sums "could be invested in better services for patients," and cited "environmental and health consequences... we can do much more to tackle this growing problem".
The association - representing 6,000 independent community pharmacies in the UK - is calling for patients with several repeat prescriptions to have more reviews, so medicines that are no longer needed can be identified.
Mr Picard added: "We are urging patients only to request medicines if they really need them when ordering repeat prescriptions.
"As well as this, patients who are prescribed multiple medicines should have these more regularly reviewed to ensure they are being fully utilised.
"If a patient has any concerns about their medicines, they should speak to their pharmacist, who can help them get the most out of their medicines."
Medicine shortages across England reported
It comes after patients and pharmacists have struggled in recent years with medicine shortages, with Community Pharmacy England (CPE) reporting more than 1,500 shortages across the country between May 2024 and April 2025.
In a meeting with MPs this week, the CPE's Dr James Davies said pressures are persisting this year, increasingly due to economic factors, as well as manufacturing and supply chain issues.
He added in a statement on the CPE's website that "community pharmacy teams, as the front door to the NHS, continue to shoulder the impact" of medicine shortages.
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Dr Davies said that "it is deeply concerning that little meaningful progress for patients has been made" - and noted a recent survey from the CPE "found that 86% of pharmacies are spending more time sourcing medicines than they did a year ago, with 72% of pharmacy team members reporting that patients are affected by medicines shortages on a daily basis".
He added: "These findings underline the urgent need for reform of the medicines supply system.
"At a minimum, the government must deliver on its commitment to introduce pharmacist flexibilities, enabling pharmacists to make appropriate amendments to prescriptions and help mitigate the impact of shortages on patients."
(c) Sky News 2026: Wasted medicine in the UK could fill 75 swimming pools a year
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