The International Medication Safety Network recommends the following steps as part of a comprehensive, worldwide solution to the problem of unsafe medicines naming, labeling and packaging.

1. Regulations for medicines naming, labeling and packaging in all countries should be strengthened to:
a. require better design and field testing of medicines naming, labeling and packaging before release for use
b. incorporate human factors theory
c. promote safer use in practice.

2. The pharmaceutical industry should ensure that their products are safely named, labeled and packaged to minimize errors in selection and use.

3. Healthcare providers should assess medicines names, labels and packages, as well as associated devices and software, before purchasing decisions are made and products are introduced into use, so that risks may be identified, minimized or managed.

Position Statement 2013 (PDF)