The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7228 p847
14 December 2002

This page
Reprint
Photocopy

PDF* 75K

  PI insurance
  Locums
  Community pharmacy
  Pharmacy practice
  The Profession
  CPD
  Alternative medicine
  Methotrexate
  Modernisation
  Packaging
  The Society

Letters to the Editor

Packaging

Why minimum standards needed

From Mr K. Bird, MRPharmS

The leading article in The Pharmaceutical Journal of 30 November (p766) raised the topic of strip-packaged medicines in the United Kingdom so now I believe it an appropriate time to introduce some ideas I have been fostering. Minimum standards for such packs should be developed with a view to persuading the Government and manufacturers to adopt it in the interests of patient safety and convenience. In my experience many health care professionals, be they pharmacists, nurses or doctors, have at some time criticised strip-packaged drugs because of some aspect of their design or labelling. In addition, patients themselves often feed back problems or concerns related to the way their medicines are packaged.

By getting some form of consensus in the form of a minimum standard, it should be possible to address many of these problems and irritations. I can imagine major manufacturers claiming it will never work and that it will mean branded products will lose their identity, but the system I envisage would still leave scope for individuality and marketing flair. What we must get away from are bizarrely shaped strips, which can only fit into oversized boxes designed by marketing staff who clearly give no real thought to the users of the product.

The "ideal pack" would have expiry dates clearly printed in unambiguous language, and a panel for the label of the correct size. Individual strips would have each compartment marked with drug name, strength and expiry etc.

Any one who would like to become involved in refining such a specification with a view to lobbying relevant organisations to encourage its adoption is welcome to contact me.

Kenneth Bird
Medicine Information Pharmacist
New Cross Hospital,
Wolverhampton
WV10 0QP

(e-mail medicines.information@rwh-tr.nhs.uk)

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (Modernisation)
Next Topic (The Society)