SIGRE has launched again its awareness campaign "Buen Punto", with which it insists on the need to frequently review the home medicine cabinet and take leftover medications to the "Punto SIGRE" of the pharmacy.
"The proper use of medication does not end when a treatment is finished," indicated the general director of the entity, Miguel Vega, who added that it also involves reviewing what is kept at home and knowing what to do with the medications that are no longer needed and their packaging. With the action, "we want to demonstrate that humor also helps to remember gestures that take care of our health and the environment," he stated.
The initiative is articulated in three ads that show everyday scenes: accumulating expired medications, not wanting to throw away old boxes of medications, and saving antibiotics "just in case." With a non-dramatic approach and accessible language, the population is invited to organize the medicine cabinet and take the waste of medications and their packaging to the "Punto SIGRE" of the pharmacy.
Until the end of November, the campaign will be disseminated throughout the national territory through television, radio, print media, and digital supports, with a special focus on those over 55 years old and households with small children. Additionally, as a proposal aimed at the senior public, "Buen Punto" will return to movie theaters on campaign Tuesdays, coinciding with the "Cine Sénior" program, which facilitates attendance for people over 65 years old.
Review of the medicine cabinet and proper waste management
The action emphasizes the convenience of reviewing the home medicine cabinet every six months to remove expired medications, those that are no longer used, or those that have not been properly stored, as well as empty packaging and leftovers from completed treatments. The central message is that these wastes should never be thrown in conventional trash or down the drain, in order to reduce health risks and avoid environmental contamination. At the same time, it facilitates the recycling of usable materials from the packaging and ensures that the leftover medications receive the appropriate environmental treatment.
In relation to antibiotics, it is reminded that they should always be used following the indications of healthcare professionals and not saved for future self-medication. This message will be reinforced on November 18, on the occasion of the European Day for the Prudent Use of these medications, in a context marked by antimicrobial resistance, considered a silent pandemic that already causes more than 24,000 deaths annually in Spain and could become the leading cause of global mortality by 2050.
Within the campaign, pharmacies maintain a key role. SIGRE will distribute informational brochures that will be placed in the "SIGRE Points," where citizens can resolve their doubts with pharmacists. The proximity and advice of these professionals are considered essential to promote responsible medication consumption habits and more sustainable practices.