BRAZIL PUBLISHES UNIT DOSE DISPENSING MANUAL

Brazilian drug market regulator Anvisa has published rules for unit dose dispensing in pharmacies. The guidelines are the result of a long-running consultation on the practice, which obliges pharmacists to repackage and dispense drugs according to doses specified on doctor scripts.

The practice is expected to cut consumer stockpiles of unwanted, expired medicines and any unnecessary expenditure. However, many drugmakers have resisted the introduction of the practice in Brazil, although it is already common in regulated markets such as the UK. Concerns have focused on added expenses due to the addition of new packaging lines and the possible substitution of copy medicines.