The One Health Approach in the Baltic Sea Region: Measures to Reduce Pharmaceutical Pollution Discussed at VU

On 4 June, an expert meeting was held at the Medical Science Centre of Vilnius University (VU) as part of an international project to discuss measures to reduce pharmaceutical pollution.

The project “RPP Baltic Sea: Reducing Pharmaceutical Pollution in the Baltic Sea Region – Analysing Use Patterns and Measures to Reduce Pollution from Human and Veterinary Medicines” is coordinated by the University of Uppsala, with a partnership network comprising academic and public sector institutions from Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania. 

The project’s primary objective is to identify and promote measures to reduce environmental pollution caused by human and veterinary medicinal products and to contribute to a more sustainable use of pharmaceuticals across the Baltic Sea region. The initiative aims to gradually implement the One Health approach, which recognises that human, animal, and environmental health are closely interconnected and that many health-related challenges require collaborative solutions involving specialists from different fields.

The expert meeting brought together representatives from Vilnius University, the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, the National Public Health Centre under the Ministry of Health, the State Food and Veterinary Service, the Institute of Hygiene, the Lithuanian Pharmacy Association, and the company Vilniaus Vandenys. The discussion united specialists from a range of sectors, including public health, veterinary medicine, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater management.

During the meeting, the results of an expert survey conducted in Lithuania were presented, highlighting key initiatives and challenges in reducing pharmaceutical pollution. The survey findings revealed that current efforts are primarily focused on the rational use of medicines, health promotion and disease prevention, and the collection and disposal of unused medicines. However, one of the main barriers to the more effective implementation of such measures remains the limited level of public engagement and awareness.

Throughout the discussions, experts reviewed existing national initiatives, their implementation potential, and possible new measures covering the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle – from medicine development, manufacturing, and use to waste management and environmental monitoring. Potential solutions and priority action areas that could contribute to the long-term reduction of pharmaceutical pollution in Lithuania and across the Baltic Sea region were also examined.

The outcomes of the Lithuanian expert meeting will be summarised and compared with the findings from similar meetings held in other participating countries. It is expected that the recommendations developed during the project will contribute to more sustainable pharmaceutical use, greater environmental awareness, and more effective measures to reduce the release of pharmaceuticals into the environment in both human and veterinary medicine.

Project start date: 1 November 2025

Project end date: 31 October 2027

Project activities in Lithuania are coordinated by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University in cooperation with the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute. The project is funded by the Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet, SI).