Calls for pharmacists and prescribers to collaborate on medication hoarders

A University of Otago study has found many households stockpile paracetamol - whether they need it or not.

A second study by the same researcher found most calls to the National Poisons Centre in 2018 were about children ingesting the drug.

Researcher Eeva-Katri Kumpula says there's no benefit to keeping meds - especially when they've expired.

She says pharmacists could ask people if they have expired stock at home, and offer to safely dispose of it.