Introduction: Improper disposal of unused and expired medicines poses severe threats to environmental safety and public health, notably accelerating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Globally, pharmaceutical consumption rose by 14% between 2019 and 2023. Despite this surge, Mongolia continuously lacks an established national pharmaceutical take-back framework, and public behaviors regarding residential medical waste management remain insufficiently evaluated. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adult residents in Ulaanbaatar concerning medication disposal. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2026 among 301 adult citizens across nine districts of Ulaanbaatar. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire evaluating demographic parameters, knowledge (10 items), attitudes (10 items), and practices (8 items). Statistical analysis was executed using IBM SPSS v26.0, applying descriptive frequencies, percentages, and one-way ANOVA. Conclusion The findings reveal a prominent knowledge-behavior gap among citizens. While the mean knowledge score was moderate (62.4%), with 92.2% recognizing the dangers of expired drugs, practical behaviors were profoundly unsafe. Specifically, 86.4% of participants discarded medication alongside ordinary household waste, 94.0% had never returned products to pharmacies, and 0% had utilized a designated medical disposal point. Conversely, an overwhelmingly positive public attitude was observed, as 88.4% expressed willingness to return unused medicines if a formal pharmacy-based collection system existed. This critical disparity underscores that public awareness campaigns alone are inadequate. There is an urgent necessity to integrate pharmacy-led take-back programs into national environmental and health policies, establish accessible urban disposal infrastructure, and enforce rigorous pharmaceutical waste standards in Mongolia.

Introduction: Recently, there has been a significant focus on developing extended-release tablets that regulate drug release at a predetermined rate to maintain optimal therapeutic plasma concentrations. Extended-release formulations offer several clinical advantages, including reducing the frequency of drug administration, minimizing fluctuations in plasma drug concentrations, decreasing adverse effects, and improving therapeutic outcomes.
According to Mongolia’s national pharmaceutical policy, it is essential to conduct quality assurance and safety monitoring studies on imported substitute products included in the national essential medicines list. The policy also mandates the quality control of pharmaceuticals in internationally accredited laboratories compliant with MNS ISO/ IEC 17025:2018 standards. Methods: The quality control parameters of Diclofenac Sodium Retard 100 mg tablets from three different manufacturers were evaluated by the methodologies outlined in the United States Pharmacopeia USP32 and USP44. The study assessed physical appearance, average weight, weight variation, friability, dissolution, and quantitative drug content determination. Results: The average weight and weight variation of Diclofenac Sodium Retard 100 mg tablets from three different manufacturers were as follows: Tablet A: (+3.60%, -2.84%), Tablet B: (+1.53%,-1.86%), Tablet C: (+2.53%,-1.96%). The friability and mechanical strength tests determined that all three tablets exhibited 99.9% friability resistance. The quantitative determination of Diclofenac Sodium content per tablet was: Tablet A: 0.098 g, Tablet B: 0.105 g, Tablet C: 0.104 g. Microbiological purity analysis showed that in all three tablets (A, B, and C), The total aerobic bacterial count was <101 CFU. The total mold and yeast count was <101 CFU and Escherichia coli was not detected. Dissolution test results showed the following percentage of drug released at different time points: Tablet A: 60 min: 16.1%, 120 min: 24.7%, 240 min: 39.6%, 360 min: 52.3%, 600 min: 73.6%. Tablet B: 60 min: 18.4%, 120 min: 26.1%, 240 min: 39.1%, 360 min: 55.8%, 600 min: 75.2%. Tablet C: 60 min: 18.6%, 120 min: 31.4%, 240 min: 52.9%, 360 min: 65.9%, 600 min: 77.0%. These results demonstrate that all tested tablets met the dissolution requirements of USP 44, 2021. Conclusion The findings indicate that the three manufacturers’ Diclofenac Sodium Retard 100 mg tablets comply with the quality standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP 32 and USP 44) and Mongolian Pharmacopoeia 2011.