The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7152 p815-820
June 16, 2001

  RPM
  In-store pharmacies
  Pharmacy medicines
  Patient packs
  The Profession
  Future of pharmacy
  Coronary heart disease
  Influenza
  Checking technicians
  Dianette
  Paracetamol
  Monitored dosage systems
  Disillusioned youth
  Code of Ethics
  SGM
  Disposal of medicines
  Separate register
  Onlooker
  The Journal

Monitored dosage systems

Implications for product licences

From Mr A. R. G. Calder, MRPharmS

Many pharmacies are now involved in the provision of monitored dose systems to nursing and residential homes. Much of the work comprises the repackaging of manufacturers’ original patient packs into unit dose systems on the pharmacy premises under conditions which are certainly inferior to those in operation at the factory.

There has been little research carried out on the effect of the medicines’ efficacy following repackaging and heat sealing under local conditions. Some manufacturers have stated that the original packaging constitutes part of the terms of the product licence and that medicines removed from the original pack would be construed as being administered outside the product licence.

Can I therefore request that as many of the pharmaceutical manufacturing companies that are willing to, could issue a comprehensive list of all their products which must not be repacked in this way, but must be issued in the original containers or patient packs?

Andrew Calder
Leigh, Lancashire

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