Pharmaceutical reverse logistics implementation in northern malaysia

As in many other developing countries, the generation of pharmaceutical wastes in Malaysia has increased significantly over the last few years. Pharmaceutical wastes are the unwanted materials which can no longer be used in the manufacturing processes that can eventually be harmful to the living beings in the ecosystem. Even though the severe impact of pharmaceutical wastes is significant, however only minor attention is given to the pharmaceutical reverse logistics. Hence, this study seeks to investigate the associated factors which affect the implementation of pharmaceutical reverse logistics in Malaysia. The data are collected using questionnaire that contains both closed- ended and multiple-choice questions. Questionnaires are administered to respondents from medical service centres sampled on a convenience basis. A total of 400 samples were collected, and the data are analysed using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression. Overall, the Cronbach’s Alpha score was 0.880 . As a result, the findings indicated that all of the independent variables such as costs, personnel, lack of coordination and government have a significant relationship with the implementation of pharmaceutical reverse logistics. Lastly, the outcomes of this study are expected to help the medical service centre to improve the handling and disposal of pharmaceutical wastes in an effective, efficient and environmental friendly way.