E-drug: Labelling of essential medicines is essential (cont)
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Dear all,
We now see fairly detailed labelling in the UK for some prescription-
only medicines, and others. A pealable label is used, under which
another label is found, containing extra information to the patient.
The first or top label contains fairly standard information, meeting
the minimum requirements of the regulatory authority. The next label
may contain additional information that is useful to the patient.
Illegibility of a label suggests that manufacturers feel compelled to
add in as much detail as possible, or that there is no enforced
guideline to follow in labelling of medicinal products. If the
illegibility has to do with the quality of print, then I would
suggest that that is a technical and quality (QA/QC) matter.
Penalties must be attached to bad labelling practices.
As the CSM report suggests, the onus is on the prescriber being able
to know the use of the product, being able to know the minimum
standard requirements for labelling, and of course being able to read
the label. Similarly, the patient needs to read and understand the
label and the instructions (that interpret or reinforce the label)
from the prescriber.
Regards,
Bonnie (Mr)
Boniface Fundafunda PhD, MBA, B.Pharm(Hon)
Marketing Manager
ECHO International Health Services Limited
Ullswater Crescent, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 2HR, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 8660 2220 Fax: +44 (0)20 8668 0751
Email: bfunda@echohealth.org.uk
www: echohealth.org.uk
[signature added again by moderator. Please Bonnie add your signature
each time so we don't have to hunt for it. BS]
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