Awards, Yellow cards and Red cards

Good packaging is important for the rational use of drugs. It helps users identify the drug inside, and use it correctly and safely. Good packaging should also provide patients and professionals with the information they need. Throughout the year, we systematically examine the packaging of all drugs we review in the New Products column.

We focus our attention on each individual packaging item. We also take into account the therapeutic value of the substance, its risk-benefit ratio, and the categories of patients who are most likely to use the product. Finally, we examine the packaging from the professional's point of view for drugs that are not self-administered.

Some drug companies clearly spend a great deal of time and effort on packaging their products, to the benefit of both patients and professionals.

Other companies apparently pay little attention to the quality of their packaging, even for drugs with major therapeutic value or those carrying a high risk. Range extensions are sometimes marketed without adequate user tests.

Prescrire's Packaging Awards are intended to reward conscientious manufacturers and to encourage others to improve.

©La revue Prescrire 23 January 2003