Last Updated on January 22, 2025 by The Health Master
Medicine labels
The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has dismissed the proposal to mandate the requirements of medicine labels in Hindi or local languages along with English.
The proposal, which was deliberated in its 86th meeting held on April 13, 2021, was dismissed on the grounds of space constraints on the medicine labels of the formulations, especially on small vials and multicomponent products.
Difficulties
The board, based on the deliberations of its committee, also further stated that it is impractical to print medicine labels in Hindi / regional languages since drug products will be manufactured in one State and the same will be distributed for sale in the whole country.
Further, it will add cost and logistic burden which may be passed on to the patients and the same therefore is not desirable.
Proposal
The proposal was submitted based on the representation received regarding the requirements of medicine labels in Hindi or local languages along with English as peoples / patients who don’t understand English are facing problems in reading and understanding the text of medicine labels, package inserts and literatures.
Sub-committee
Earlier, similar issue for labeling of iron tablets and polio drops distributed to the children under government programmes with name and expiry date in Hindi along with English was deliberated in 77th meeting of DTAB and DTAB in its 78th meeting constituted a sub-committee to examine and give its recommendation to streamline the medicine labeling requirements of drugs.
Also read:
Ibuprofen safe, doesn’t raise C-19 death risk: Study
Do not skip the second dose of C-19 vaccine: Read
Pharma companies are now essential services
Platform for Nurses, Healthcare Staff, Lab Technicians
Anti C-19 drug developed by DRDO gets DCGI nod
Haryana: दवाइयों की कालाबाजारी व मुनाफाखोरी में 45 लोग arrest
Recommendation
The sub-committee had submitted its recommendations that names of medicines shall be printed both in English and Hindi for open market, whereas government agencies during procurement of medicines are at liberty to ask for regional language on the medicine labels along with English.
DTAB 82nd meeting
However, DTAB, in its 82nd meeting held on April 2, 2019, while deliberating the recommendations of the sub-committee did not agree with making it mandatory to include drug name and expiry date in Hindi/regional language along with English.
DTAB 86th meeting
In the 86th meeting on April 13, the board deliberated its earlier recommendation of 82nd meeting and recalled the reasons for not mandating the requirements of medicine labels in Hindi or local languages along with English.
Reason
The reasons include space constraint on the medicine labels of the formulations especially on small vials and multi component products and it is impractical to print labels in Hindi/regional languages since drug products will be manufactured in one state and the same will be distributed for sale in whole country.
Further, it will add cost and logistic burden, which may be passed on to the patients, and the same is not desirable.
For informative videos by The Health Master, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on Medical Store / Pharmacy, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on the news regarding Pharma / Medical Devices / Cosmetics / Homoeopathy etc., click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on consumer awareness, click on the below YouTube icon:
