english.prescrire.org > Annual Prescrire Awards > The Prescrire Awards for 2012 > Abstract
The Prescrire Awards for 2012

The independent French journal's take on the year's
top Drugs, Packaging and Information

Abstract

The drug packaging examined by Prescrire in 2012, on the whole, fails to perform its essential functions.
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  • Drug packaging plays an important role in protecting and providing information to patients. The packaging examined by Prescrire in 2012, on the whole, still fails to perform all of these functions effectively.
     
  • Two issues are especially worrisome. First, packaging too often poses a danger to children. In addition, too many patient leaflets provide incomplete information about adverse effects, thus failing to properly protect the most vulnerable patients.
     
  • Yet, the method Prescrire used to analyse drug packaging shows that it is not difficult to detect and anticipate risks. It is up to healthcare professionals to take advantage of the method, to protect patients from, and report, dangerous packaging. 

©Prescrire May 2013