The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7252 p793
7 June 2003

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  SGM
  New Charter
  CD prescribing
  Asthma
  CFC-free inhaling
  Remuneration
  Branding
  Pharmacy closures
  Yellow cards
  Patient packs
  Penicillin
  The Society

Letters to the Editor

Patient packs

I am ashamed for the profession of pharmacy

From Ms D. S. Fine, MRPharmS

As a "non-practising" pharmacist who is on long-term thyroxine medication, I have my prescriptions dispensed at a local pharmacy.

I am ashamed for the profession when I receive snipped packs of tablets. Sometimes the pack has sharp edges; sometimes there are two tablets at the bottom of the box. When the pack has been "snipped", it looks as though the pharmacist is acting totally unprofessionally. Patients who are not pharmacists may make all sorts of assumptions — that the pharmacist is financially as well as literally cutting corners, that inferior medicines are being dispensed, or that someone else's used drugs are being recycled.

I can think of no other modern, professional transaction in which a product would change hands in such a furtive, shameful fashion. Each time I receive my tablets in this state, I am forcefully reminded of the expression, "Would you buy a used car from this man?".

I am only pleased that I am the recipient and not the perpetrator of this unacceptable practice.

Doreen Fine
Pinner, Middlesex

Putting money before patients

From Ms J. M. Evans, MRPharmS

I recently took part in an experiment where I was asked to take a white blank tablet without knowing what it was. I, of course, would not. This is how patients must feel, even when they are given patient packs. If they are presented with lots of cut up strips this will further compound their concern. Recent media attention has made patients wary of the medical profession. As a group, health professionals should be trying to regain their trust. Patients will not trust pharmacists who give them a variety of colours and shapes of tablets in one box and claim they are the same. Cost is not a reason to jeopardise patients' health. Unfortunately, however, pharmacists do have to think of cost. If the Department of Health were to make patient pack dispensing compulsory, pharmacists would not need to put money before the patient.

Janice Evans
London

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