The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7401 p590
20 May 2006

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· Intervention recording
· Packaging
· National Health Service
· Remote supervision
· Council election
· Fitness to practise (3)
· Education

Letters to the Editor

Packaging

How NDCs reduce US dispensing errors

From Mr J. G. Dave , MRPharmS

In reply to David Cousins (PJ, 22 April, p477), here in the US each medicine has a unique 10-digit number or NDC (National Drug Code). The first five numbers identify the manufacturer, the next three numbers the drug, strength and dosage form, and the last two the pack size. When a medicine is selected in the computer and the label printed, the NDC is printed on the label. (Computers have a database of each medicine linked to its respective NDC.) So, when a pharmacist dispenses a prescription, he can match the NDC on the label with the NDC on the medicine pack. This can minimise dispensing errors (which is especially important in a litigation-friendly society such as the US).

Presumably, this could work in the UK as an added feature in the labelling and packaging of medicines to cut down dispensing errors.

J. Dave
Fremont, California

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