Throughout the year, the editorial staff systematically examines the packaging of several hundred pharmaceutical products. This provides us with an opportunity to identify high-quality packaging and to detect dangerous packaging that is a potential source of confusion and errors, in order to inform our readers.
Detailed analysis
Every aspect of packaging is examined: the outer packaging (the box), the primary internal packaging (blister pack, bottle, syringe, sachet, etc.); devices provided for preparing and/or administering the doses; and of course, the legibility and quality of information provided in the package leaflet.
Specialised editors within the Prescrire Packaging Working Group further review packaging items and grant the annual Packaging Awards.
Annual Awards in total independence
At the end of each year, the Packaging Awards are granted following a review of the year’s standardised forms, in total independence and with no input from drug or packaging manufacturers.
> Click here to download the rules (pdf 275 Ko, in French).
No Awards granted in 2009
In 2009, as in previous years, the packaging of several products stood out from the rest for one reason or another (see the June 2010 issue). This year, however, none of them met all of the quality and safety criteria required to merit a Packaging Award.
Particularly poor packaging is awarded a yellow or red card, depending on the degree of risk it creates. Unfortunately, the list for 2009 is rather long.
©Prescrire April 2010
Source: Prescrire Int 2010; 18 (106): 87.
> Click here to download the full results of the 2009 Prescrire Awards (pdf, 191 Ko).