The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7156 p51-52
July 14, 2001

  Pharmacist careers
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  Primary care pharmacy
  Self-checking
  Dispensing labels
  The Journal

Dispensing labels

Regulations needed

From Mr S. Lyftingsmo

Recently at least one UK pharmacy chain has introduced its logo on the background of its dispensing labels. Colour differences on the background (behind, not around the text) make text less readable but, as far as I know, there are no specific regulations against it on medicines labelling. Some years ago the Norwegian regulatory authorities stopped a Norwegian manufacturer using a triangle logo “behind” the text, because there had been reported medication errors believed to be caused by this label element.

In most large pharmaceutical companies, label design is the responsibility of the marketing department, and not considered (contrary to what we assume) a pharmaceutical matter. Now that the problem has been recognized (in Norway, at least), action should be taken to change international labelling requirements to stop corporate logos appearing on the background of dispensing labels. This could be brought about through protests from community pharmacists and patient organisations, by changing pharmacists’ codes of ethics regarding dispensing labels, and by changing national regulatory requirements for dispensing labels.

Stein Lyftingsmo
Elverum, Norway

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