Overspending driven by oversized single dose vials

Peter B Bach and colleagues call for an end to contradictory regulatory standards in the US that allow drug manufacturers to boost profits by producing single dose vials containing quantities that increase leftover drug.
Even though reducing waste in healthcare is a top priority, analysts have missed the waste that can be created when expensive infused drugs are packaged containing quantities larger than the amount needed. This is particularly true for drugs for which dosage is based on a patient’s weight or body size and that come in single dose packages. The article has a nice set of interactive infographics that show why cancer drug vial sizes cost billions (BMJ, 1 March 2016).
Click here for a preview of the article and the infographics.
Click here for more information about the NVC E-Course Pharmaceutical Packaging.

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