International guidelines on the labelling of dispensed medicines are to be drafted in the light of a survey finding that labelling can be improved in most of the world. The study, carried out by the FIP's working group on labelling, found that even in many developed countries prescription labels did not always meet minimum requirements, which the group had identified as the drug's generic name, its strength and individual dosage instructions.
Although most developed countries met the strength and dose requirements, many of them - including the United Kingdom and the United States - had no obligation to label every medicine with the generic name.
Presenting the study results during a forum on good labelling practice on September 8, the working group's chairman, Mr Stein Lyftingsmo (Norway), said that, although the survey had had its faults, its basic message was clear. As a consequence, the working group intended to draft guidelines for presentation to the FIP congress in 2000.