Medical packaging design has to take into account many different factors. Apart from secure and sterile packaging, clinical labelling provides information about the medications, directions for use and dosage. Track and trace serialization printed on the packaging also helps to prevent counterfeit drugs, by using a unique serial code for authentication and tracking of the medication.
Medical packaging services like blister packaging, bottling, pouches and stick packs, compliance packaging, formulation and manufacturing services, and label design and printing, all play an important role in the public health sphere. Medical packaging makes possible quality control and tracking of authentic products, eliminating the risks of contamination and counterfeit drugs.
The role of packaging in drug safety and authentication
The prescription drug market in the U.S. was worth about 231.46 billion dollars in 2011. At any given point of time, nearly half or 48.5% of Americans report that they have used prescription drugs within the past month. In 2011, some 2.6 billion prescription drugs were ordered or provided by doctors and pharmacies during or after visits with physicians.
With such a large volume of prescription drugs, issues of safety and authenticity become very important. Medical packaging and clinical labeling play a pivotal role in quality control and in tracking batches through serialization. Both blister and pouch packaging can be used to contain measured doses, whether on tablet, capsule or liquid form.
Advantages of blister packaging
Blister packaging designs offer many advantages for medical packaging and clinical labelling. Various combination of PVC and foil create thicker and more durable packaging. It can be opaque, tinted, or translucent in appearance, so that the package can be customized.
Blister packaging creates a cavity or pocket that keeps the product safe, uncontaminated and less likely to be broken or suffer damage. When used for pharmaceuticals, blister packaging often has peelable lamination for easy opening. It can also be made childsafe, so it can only be opened by adults. The packaging also carries information about the product, such as lot number and expiration date. This is crucial for quality control and tracking purposes.
Bottles and pouches prevent contamination and tampering
Bottles and pouches are convenient for liquid medications. Liners and seals can be added to bottles to prevent contamination and tampering. Bottles labels can carry bar codes for identification purposes. Bottle caps are made to be child safe and tamper proof.
Pouches are preferred for liquid products because they can contain measured doses. They’re also tamper-proof, childsafe and easy to open.
Cartons make room for extras
Cartons and boxes allow for extras like ads and coupons to be include along with the medication. Putting mediation in cartons allows manufacturers to include necessary extras like auto injector pens and sterilized bottles for injectable products. Cartons are a popular choice for an manufacturers because they can include accurately labeled vials as well as printed product information and instructions for the medications.
Clinical labelling plays an important part in the dispensation and use of prescription medications. Packaging is crucial part in ensuring the safety and authenticity of medications.
