Medication Labeling Practices at in-Patient Hospital Pharmacies: the Present Dilemma in Pakistan

Dispensing process involves preparation and giving of medicines according to a prescription to a person, it also involves proper preparation and labeling of medicines for patient according to the instructions of prescriber [1]. Dispensing is crucial process for assuring rational use of drugs as a small mistake can lead to wrong drug, wrong dose , wrong advice, therefore it is important that drug should be dispensed correctly [2]. Many factors influence dispenser behavior including: training and knowledge, professional compensation, economic incentives, supply, available product information, availability of dispensing equipment, public versus private-sector promotional and marketing techniques, social status of a dispenser and his or her role in the health care system, dispenser-prescriber relationship and lack of communication skills [3]. The pharmacists and other health personnel always try to reduce the chances of medication errors. It is the practice of labeling that helps them achieve this goal [4]. Labeling is a unique identity or name given to a medicine so that patients can identify the medicine and find it easier to use [5]. A properly labeled medicine not only helps the practitioner in prescribing correct medicine and nurses to administer right medicines in right doses to right patients but it also helps the patients to make informed decision in emergency situation [6,7]. Each type of drug dispensed i.e. OTC, controlled preparations and injections have their own labeling requirements that must be taken care during dispensing. This way the labeling will become adequate and the patient and practitioner both will be at benefit [8]. Despite of the importance of medicine labeling, the labeling done in actual is very inconsistent and incomplete [9,10], as health personnel are not able to understand the signs, colors and Volume 2 Issue 1 2018