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William H. Shrank and Jerry Avorn Educating Patients About Their Medications: The Potential And Limitations Of Written Drug Information Health Affairs, May/June 2007; 26(3): 731-740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Reprints & Permissions]

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Poor State Of Affairs In Developing Countries Related To Medication Information

Manthan D. Janodia, D.Sreedhar, Virendra S.Ligade, Ajay G.Pise, Udupa N.   ( 10 August 2007 )

Poor State Of Affairs In Developing Countries Related To Medication Information 10 August 2007
Manthan D. Janodia, lecturer Dept. of Pharmacy Management, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, India, D.Sreedhar, Virendra S.Ligade, Ajay G.Pise, Udupa N. Send comment to journal: Re: Poor State Of Affairs In Developing Countries Related To Medication Information manthan.j{at}manipal.edu Manthan D. Janodia, et al.	This article correctly identifies the problems associated with information on medications for patients. Although the U.S. FDA has stringent rules for approving a label for medicines, aimed at providing information to physicians, patients hardly find it useful to read. The U.S. scenario is so worrisome that it is dreadful to imagine the conditions in developing countries, where basic and primary facilities for health care are luxuries. Health literacy among the citizens of many developing countries is minimal, and there is hardly any patient-physician interaction. Container labels and package inserts are written with jargon that is known only to health care providers, and patients have trouble finding the right information regarding the medications. Further, the rules for labeling are lax in certain developing countries. Package inserts are written in such a way, in too small a font size to read, that a patient would hardly find any meaningful information from the package inserts. This is more true in case of developing countries where literacy rates are too low and basic amenities are scarce. There are hardly any regulations for labeling in such countries, and even if such regulation exist, they are scarcely implemented, which leads to medication errors not only on the part of patients in case of an outpatient setup but on the part of physicians as well. The case of the U.S. is so alarming -- millions of medication errrors occur every year, costing several billion dollars -- it is no surprise to see several deaths due to medication errors and poor medication information in developing countries. It is the right time to identify the problems of medication errors and correct them. Pharmaceutical companies should be strictly asked to provide information for the patients regarding the medicines, dosing, adverse effects, indications, and other relevant information in a jargon-free style that is easily readable, and with larger fonts.