E-DRUG: Repacking medicines in pharmacies (1)
As from very recent personal experience, UK still does
Dr Valeria Frighi
Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Churchill Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7LJ
UK
Tel # 44 1865 857300
Fax # 44 1865 857311
Mobile 07974 920013
valeria.frighi@doctors.org.uk
[KM: I checked E-drug archives and if you search for original pack dispensing, this message can be found:
Original pack dispensing http://www.essentialdrugs.org/edrug/archive/199612/msg00002.php
Original pack dispensing delayed again
The UK is one of the few countries which
still dispenses tablets and capsules from bulk stock, by pouring and counting into dispensing containers. With the exception of The Netherlands, all of Europe uses original manufacturers packs designed for delivery unopened to the patient. The other main bulk user is the USA. The decision to move to original packs was made by the government last year, after many years of debate. However, although a timetable was set, the Department of Health has recently admitted that what it terms the 'patient pack prescribing initiative' will not be in full operation before the autumn at the earliest. Ministers are said to be 'trying to resolve snagging problems'. These are thought to include the problem of hospital dispensing, where the non-availability of bulk packs would lead to serious cost increases. Another problem concerns the patient information leaflets for hospital in-patients. There are also problems with the law as it stands at the moment.
Alan W Davidson
General Secretary, International Pharmaceutical Federation a.davidson@fip.nl