Statement 5.10

“Hospital pharmacists should ensure that medicines stored throughout the hospital are packaged and labelled so to assure identification, maintain integrity until immediately prior to use and permit correct administration.” 

What does it mean for patients? To assure safe administration and avoid any confusion, medicines should be packaged and labelled adequately and stored appropriately prior to use. Unambiguous and complete labelling is paramount to avoid any confusion, misinterpretation or administration error in the whole process.

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? All medicines should be packaged and labelled adequately and stored appropriately prior to use in order to avoid confusion or medication errors.

Unambiguous and complete labelling is paramount to avoid any confusion, misinterpretation or administration error in the whole proces

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists should consider criteria of labelling and packaging when purchasing medicines and should guarantee appropriate labelling and packaging of medicines produced by the hospital pharmacy.

Hospital pharmacists should ensure that medicines stored on the wards and prepared on the wards meet the required safety criteria.

Hospital pharmacists should report inadequate labelling and packaging of purchased medicines to the authorities.