From medicine disposal to appropriateness: pharmacists at the school of sustainability

Fostering the formation of a network of pharmacies at the forefront of sustainable innovation, to combine health, environmental care and positive social impact. These are the objectives of "From One Health to Open Health", a sustainable pharmacy training programme promoted by the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome with the unconditional support of Zambon. The programme aims to promote the emergence of new initiatives and services in Italian pharmacies inspired by the principles of environmental and social sustainability and the One Health philosophy, concretely integrating this approach into the everyday life of pharmacies. At the heart of the initiative is the targeted training offered to pharmacists to support them in their dialogue with customers, patients and caregivers on major issues such as the responsible use of medicines in accordance with the therapeutic appropriateness suggested by the doctor, the correct disposal of unused or expired medicines, and effective communication oriented towards prevention and monitoring.

Pharmacies today play a key role as active headmasters in the promotion of health and the dissemination of responsible behaviour. The pharmacist, therefore, is called upon to embrace a broader vision of his or her role, becoming a reliable and proactive point of reference in promoting health and sustainability in a One Health perspective, the model that sees the close connection and interdependence between human, animal and environmental health, contributing to generating value for the community in which it operates. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has recently highlighted how pharmacists recognise climate change as an urgent threat to public health, while highlighting widespread uncertainty over how to take concrete action. A recent guide published by the FIP in November actively promoted the creation and sharing of high quality training programmes to strengthen the role of pharmacies in addressing contemporary environmental and social challenges.

The From One Health to Open Health project, which will start in March 2026 and develop nationwide, will be implemented through a CME Accredited Programme - with the issuing of credits for pharmacists - with 2 live interactive webinars of one hour each (replicated in two editions) and 7 asynchronous training pills of 30 minutes, usable on an e-learning platform. Through the training involvement conceived by the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome with a board dedicated to the Project, pharmacists will be able to train themselves on the One Health theme and design their own roadmap towards sustainability, in order to become increasingly attentive garrisons to the social and environmental needs of the territory. "The One Health approach," says Laura De Gara, Rector's Delegate for the One Health Project at the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, "represents a pillar of our University's strategic vision. Through the three missions that characterise us - education, research and knowledge transfer - we intend to promote sustainable development capable of generating concrete benefits in terms of health and well-being, not only for present generations but also for future ones. The One Health approach requires the ability to integrate different knowledge and methodologies, fostering research that brings together the many competences present in our University: from nutrition to medicine and engineering. At the same time, it is essential to train professionals with a special sensitivity towards health and the protection of the planet'.

"On the eve of our 120th anniversary, we wanted to give further impetus to the ethical direction that has always guided the way we take care of people's health,' emphasises Elena Zambon, President of Zambon. 'Sustainability for us means supporting the future by taking care of it and, in this era, we can only do this by broadening the horizon of our actions, giving health a central role and elevating it to an integrated and interconnected system such as One Health. It is a challenge that concerns us all and that must be tackled by involving as many players as possible so that they become protagonists in shaping the future together'. "Management's responsibility is to transform the One Health horizon into challenging objectives that involve our people. This is why we have identified a framework that identifies concrete guidelines to be integrated into the business," said Giovanni Magnaghi, CEO of Zambon. "In addition to investing in prevention and monitoring activities within the company to benefit the health of our collaborators, we develop partnerships and training and education initiatives on sustainability, such as the one promoted by the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, which enhances the role of the pharmacy as a responsible stakeholder by supporting pharmacists in their training and preparation on sustainability issues.