Medication Indication on the Prescription (Resolution No. 100-7-04)

April 28, 2004 2:03 PM Topics: Resolutions

Resolution No. 100-7-04
Title: Medication Indication on the Prescription
Action: Passed

Whereas, states do not currently require indication, purpose, or diagnosis be included on the prescription, patient labels or containers; and

Whereas, the lack of this essential patient care information impedes the delivery of pharmaceutical care and can contribute to the incidence of medication errors; and

Whereas, a number of prescription drugs have more than one possible indicated use and
look-alike and sound-alike prescription medication names potentially endanger patient safety because such prescription medications are often confused, resulting in medication errors and their consequent harm to patients; and

Whereas, studies have indicated that a pharmacist performing patient counseling as a component of medication management is one of the best protections to prevent medication errors from reaching a patient and a pharmacist, in providing patient counseling, would be greatly benefited by knowing the indicated use of a prescription medication, thus resulting in improved patient counseling and a safer dispensing of prescription drugs;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP encourage national and state medical associations and other interested parties to support legislative and regulatory efforts in the states to require prescribers to include the indication for the medication on all prescriptions and medication orders issued orally, in writing, or transmitted electronically.

(Resolution passed at NABP’s 100th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL)