Pharmaceutical Packaging
Pharmaceutical Packaging
Pharmaceutical packaging refers to the systems, materials, and technologies used to protect, store, and deliver medicines safely to patients. It plays a vital role in maintaining drug stability, ensuring proper dosage, preventing contamination, and enabling efficient transportation and handling throughout the supply chain. As healthcare systems advance and new therapies emerge, pharmaceutical packaging continues to evolve with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation.
Key Functions
Pharmaceutical packaging performs several essential functions. It protects the drug from moisture, oxygen, light, temperature changes, and physical damage. It ensures the medicine remains effective throughout its shelf life. Packaging also supports patient safety by providing correct dosage information, tamper-prevention, child-resistant features, and clear labeling. In addition, it enables traceability and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring that products can be monitored from production to final use.
Main Types of Packaging
Pharmaceutical packaging is generally divided into three levels.Primary packaging is the material in direct contact with the drug, such as blister packs, bottles, vials, syringes, cartridges, and sachets.Secondary packaging includes cartons, boxes, and inserts that provide protection, branding, and regulatory information.Tertiary packaging consists of larger containers, pallets, and protective materials used for shipping and distribution.
