E-drug: Re: Wall Street Journal on expired drug (cont'd)
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Dear All,
I am tempted to head this one "expiry dates - a help or a hindrance?"
A problem with expiry dates on medicinal products is that, with few
exceptions, they are merely an indicator and not a scientific turning point
in terms of quality and fitness for use. As Bonnie ("he" by the way)
pointed out there are many factors affecting product quality. These
factors, when adverse, may result in products being unfit for use even
before the expiry date, equally in most scenarios the product may be fit
for use beyond the expiry date.
Before expiry dates were obligatory labelling (in most countries though not
in all I have recently discovered) fitness for use was a matter for
professional judgement where this was available, and the greatest value in
having an expiry date is that where such professional judgement is not
available then there is now a clear ruling to follow.
Expiry dates are not an issue in countries where the products can be
returned to the supplier on a new for old basis, or where the supply lines
are very efficient and minimal stocks are held. They are an issue where
this is not possible (ie most developing countries) and it is a question of
use or destroy (or stuff into a corner out of the way!).
Having recently worked in an "emergency"/donation region I would agree that
because professional judgement is usually absent then we do need to support
the expiry date recommendations in the Donation Guidelines. But it would
be incorrect to try to build a scientific case on the basis of those
excellent guidelines designed for specific situations.
We would get far more value out of the worlds pharmaceutical production if
expiry dates were only applied to those products where they are absolutely
necessary for safety reasons but I suppose that we cannot turn the clock
back now.
I go back to my original question - has the use of expiry dates helped or
hindered the rational use of drugs in the care of people?
Regards
Paul
Paul D Spivey
PECS LTD
23 Colthill Road
Milltimber
Aberdeenshire AB13 0EF
Scotland UK
Phone; +44 (0)1224 734501
Fax; +44 (0)1224 734202
Mobile; +44 (0)7974 226376
Email; paul_spivey@compuserve.com
[Thanks Paul, I take it for support of what I tried to comment earlier.
Sadly expiry dates has become some kind of 'Eureka' - solving all problems
and freeing the pharmacists from using their scientific knowledge or
freeing other professionals from consulting pharmacists on this. KM,
moderator]
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