Patient pack prescribing and the provision of patient information leaflets

doi:10.1136/dtb.1995.331186

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1995;33:86-88; doi:10.1136/dtb.1995.331186

Patient pack prescribing and the provision of patient information leaflets

In most of Western Europe prescribed medicines, accompaniedby patient information leaflets, are dispensed by pharmacistsin packs provided by the manufacturer. Up until now, pharmacistsin the UK have usually bought medicines in bulk and then repackedand dispensed them in individually labelled bottles or cartonswithout leaflets. Over the next three years the patient packdispensing system (original pack plus patient information) willbe introduced in the UK. The new scheme has been devised toallow the UK to meet European legislation on patient informationwhich requires that by December 1998 patients are provided withdetailed written information about the drug(s) that is dispensed.^1–3In this article we discuss how the scheme will be introducedand how it will affect patients, pharmacists and doctors.