Medicine packaging is an essential aspect of medicine storage. Depending on the type of medication you are storing, you must ensure you are using the proper materials. Also, it would help if you designed the packaging to ensure it looks good and functions properly.
Long-term care facilities require medication packaging
Long-term care facilities are facing a growing need for medication packaging solutions. Whether the facility has a closed-door pharmacy in-house or depends on external pharmacy delivery services, the staff members in charge of managing the medications need help.
The average long-term care patient takes at least 13.5 medications per day. Medications can be dispensed in single or multi doses. Choosing the proper packaging solution for your facility will help keep residents healthy and satisfied.
Blister packs provide convenience and ease for nursing staff. They simplify the administration of medications by eliminating the need to retrieve medicines from multiple prescription containers. It saves time and prevents error-prone tasks.
Adherence to sustainable packaging is a proven way to ensure proper medication compliance. In addition, by allowing staff to customize and track medications according to the resident’s needs, this packaging helps provide better care and lessens the burden on nurses.
Strip pouches allow for easy administration of medications. They can accommodate single or multiple-dose regimens and can be scanned with 2D barcodes.
Medication sustainable packaging also reduces the risk of errors. For example, a preliminary study of a multi-dose packaging system showed that this type of packaging reduced the preparation and administration of medications by up to 50 per cent.
In-facility medication dispensing and packaging systems have the potential to reduce readmissions and improve patient safety. Swisslog Healthcare’s InSite(r) In-Facility Medication Packaging and Dispensing System can make this possible.
Some of the benefits of these systems include the ability to change prescriptions and refills easily and reduce staff workload. It can also increase the Five-Star Quality Ratings of a long-term care facility.
Achieving the best results requires a solid plan and the expertise to implement it. Educating residents and staff about the benefits of adherence packaging and implementing it as part of your drug management program can help you find the perfect solution for your facility.
Long-term care pharmacies must package and dispense medications in blister packs, strip pouches, and other specialty packaging. For a small fee, you can get the assistance you need to ensure your business is booming.
Designing pharma packaging
Packaging is a powerful way to promote a product. It’s a good idea to think about your target market when designing your packaging. You want to make sure that your product stands out from the crowd. Using colourful and creative packaging is one way to do this.
In addition to promoting your product, you need to ensure that the design explains the benefits of using your product. It may include how it’s made, how long it lasts, how it’s tested, and what you can expect from it.
A good pharma packaging design is also likely to be cost-effective. But, again, a reputable brand design agency can help you achieve the best results.
When displaying information about your medicine, your packaging is the point of contact between you and your customer. It means that it must be easy to read. To do this, you need to use a font that’s easy to read and legible.
It would help if you also were careful to choose your colours carefully. Colours psychologically affect people and can make a product look and feel trustworthy. While red is usually the most common colour for a pharma packaging design, green is often a good choice.
Another important consideration is the size and quality of the packaging. Large volumes of a given product require packaging that is durable and effective. In addition, depending on the product, you may need to use more environmentally friendly materials, such as recycled plastics.
Lastly, you want to ensure that your packaging is designed for ease of use. It is important because a user-friendly package will encourage patients to follow the directions for using a specific product. If your packaging is not simple, users will likely give up on using your product altogether.
Designing for the pharma industry has its own set of rules and regulations. These may differ depending on your location and the type of product you’re packaging.
Materials used in pharma packaging
Pharmaceutical packaging includes various materials to safeguard drugs and other medicines from damage and contamination. These materials also serve to promote treatment adherence.
Materials include bottles, sachets, glass, plastic and foam. Each of these materials has properties that influence how it works.
Polyethylene is the most widely used material in pharmaceutical containers. It is resistant to strong alkalis and acids. Nevertheless, it is susceptible to oxidation and is easily permeated by essential flavours. A high rate of odour permeability is also present.
Plastic pharmaceutical containers are light and collapsible. They can be reused or recycled. However, these containers are only sometimes biodegradable. If the contents begin to break down, it could leave the container unprotected against microbial growth.
Glass is another common material in pharmaceutical containers, and this material is mainly composed of calcium carbonate, silica and metal oxides. Sodium, potassium and boron are the most common cations found in glassware.
Thermoplastic closures are another popular choice. Closures can be in a simple, rectangular format or a more intricate design. Both of these materials are available in self-destructing varieties.
Rubber is another popular material. Rubber is a flexible polymer derived from natural or artificial sources. Although rubber may not be ideal for all uses, it is often incorporated into caps, liners and stoppers.
Paper is also used in pharma packaging. Paper is usually lightweight and porous, but it can be used to create tape-sealing, a method of sealing a package by applying pressure-sensitive tape. In addition, some types of paper can be slit before application.
Other materials often used in pharmaceutical containers include sachets, blister packs, and vials. Sachets are less airtight than bags and are a convenient form of packaging for small amounts of liquid semi-solid products. Blister packs are designed to protect pharmaceuticals from moisture and humidity.
Bottles are a common type of pharmaceutical container, and their composition depends on the product. Most contain boron, sodium and silicon.
Plastic containers are generally made of high-density polyethylene. Though the material is resistant to most acids, it has a high permeation rate of essential flavours.
The industry is also concerned about spurious medicines, resulting in drug errors and patient injury. These are huge concerns for companies.