Most patients who take medications realize that no medicines are completely safe. They often have side effects associated with them. There’s always the chance of contamination. Both of these factors can result in recalls. Individuals don’t often stop to think about how a medication’s packaging poses potential dangers as well, though. Pharmaceutical recalls due to packaging are a very real risk.
Pharmaceutical Recalls Due to Packaging Problems
Statistics compiled by PharmaceuticalCommerce.com in 2018 captured the following statistic. There was a 52% uptick in pharmaceutical recalls during the first quarter of 2018. Many of the medications that drug manufacturers or U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulators recalled that year had packaging problems. The use of stock-keeping units (SKUs), implementation of serialization and automation has resulted in a reduction in recalls in recent years. However, there are still some lingering problems.
Statistics compiled by Pharmaceutical Processing World capture how at least half of all pharmaceutical recalls have to do with product packaging problems such as artwork or labeling. Their research shows that contextual word use and content errors, unusable barcodes and missing details in the artwork are responsible for packaging recalls.
Packaging Recalls Due to Human Labor
These recalls can be inconvenient for consumers and costly for drug manufacturers. The latter can largely prevent these from happening. This happens by merely inspecting product packaging at every production stage to make sure that it’s accurate. Pharmaceutical Processing World points out that technology exists that can review graphics or artwork, barcodes and Braille on the packaging. Those same programs can also check for spelling and contextual issues.
One reason why packaging errors continue plaguing drug manufacturers despite there being technology to help prevent them is that many of these companies still rely on human labor to deal with product labeling. Their research shows that as much as 60% of recalls may result from human errors.
Studies show that rushed manufacturing, competence gaps and inconsistent production protocols may also be reasons for packaging errors. Storing source material in multiple areas and improper file labeling may also be to blame for these problems.
Houston Defective Medical
Product labeling problems can lead a patient to experience unanticipated side effects, result in them taking the wrong dosage at wrong intervals and other issues. A drug injury attorney can advise you about dangerous drugs and your right to recover compensation if you suffered a pharmaceutical injury due to a manufacturer’s negligence.
