What a perfect pharmaceutical packaging needs

Pharmaceutical packaging is more than just filling the content into a colorfully designed and labeled container. It demands extreme degree of safety until the product reaches the end users and brought in use. Therefore, it is very different from other commercial product packaging. The prime focus of the packagers is to protect the drug content from harmful external elements with different protection levels and make it perfectly safe for shipping and distribution. Here is what a perfect pharmaceutical packaging needs:

Physical Protection– Pharmaceuticals can be in the form of solid (Tablets/Capsules), powder, cream or liquid. Hence, the content has to be packed accordingly, though almost every medicine needs protection from vibration, shock, compression, temperature, etc. enclosed in the package. For more delicate items additional layer of sheets are used, like cardboard, bubble sheets and paper strings are used.

Protection from External Elements– Since pharmaceuticals involve chemicals in their manufacturing, they need protection from external elements like oxygen, water vapor, dust, etc. so as to avoid chemical reaction and deformation of their actual composition. Using appropriate element and sealing technique, a barrier is create against expected external factors.

Agglomeration or Containment – Medicinal products need to be grouped together in one package for efficient transportation and handling. Mostly, tablets and capsules (in small numbers, preferably 5/10/12) are packed between metallic/ plastic sheets joined and sealed together. Many of them are also bottled. The choice of containment depends on the type of medicine to be packed.

Information transmission – Packaging of the product has to contain information related to their uses, transportation, recycling/ dispose, etc. on the label in order to maintain safety of the product. The information might be printed in the form of text, note, warning or symbol.

Theft Reduction - Pharmaceutical packaging is also responsible for reducing the possibility of tampering or theft. For this, the pack has to be sealed in a way that it cannot be re-closed or gets physically damaged, and even if it tried to open it shows the signs to help in the prevention of theft. Many advance pharma packages are integrated with anti-theft devices.

Comfort – Comfortable features have to be included for easy handling, distribution, display, opening, sale, re-closing, use and re-use. This provides the package extra efficiency and safety to the pack, no matter how they are handled.

Marketing – Apart from safety and efficiency, pharma packages must also have the marketing ability. Packaging is not just to provide production to the product but also to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. For the purpose, packages are labeled with fine and attractive print.