english.prescrire.org > Annual Prescrire Awards > The Prescrire Awards for 2008 > About the 2008 Prescrire Packaging Awards
The Prescrire Awards for 2008

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

About the 2008 Prescrire Packaging Awards

The Packaging Awards focus on the packaging quality of drugs evaluated during the previous year in the New Products section of our French edition (issues 291 to 302 for 2008).

The first aim of Prescrire’s Packaging Awards is to draw the attention of healthcare professionals and patients to the dangers posed by certain types of drug packaging.

They also promote examples of high-quality, patient-friendly packaging used by some pharmaceutical companies and encourage the others to improve their packaging.

Packaging that complies with all quality criteria receives a Packaging Award. Particularly poor packaging is awarded a yellow or red card, depending on how dangerous it is.

Systematic analysis throughout the year
Throughout the year the editorial staff examines the packaging of new drugs and of older drugs that have been modified. Every aspect is examined: the outer packaging (the box), the immediate packaging (blister pack, bottle, syringe, sachet, etc.), devices provided for preparing and/or administering the doses, and of course the package leaflet.

This systematic analysis is based on Prescrire standardised forms
The steps taken to guarantee the quality and safety of each item of packaging are studied, taking into account the risk-benefit balance of the drug, the patients concerned and the conditions of administration.

Total independence
A specialised team, the Prescrire packaging working group, produces an overview of the analyses. At the end of each year, the Packaging Awards are granted on the basis of the standardised forms, in total independence and with no input from drug or packaging manufacturers.
> Click here to download the rules (pdf 254 Ko, in French).

© Prescrire April 2009

Source: Prescrire Int 2009; 18 (100): 82.