Walmart pharmacies adopting new compliance packaging
Posted by John Kalkowski -- Packaging Digest, 9/26/2012 10:56:12 AM
Ecoslide-RX, a pharmaceutical compliance package that is more environmentally sustainable than many traditional packs, will soon be arriving at Walmart's pharmacies.
Introduced in late 2011 by Keystone Folding Box Co. - a New Jersey-based manufacturer of paper-based packaging solutions - Ecoslide-RX is senior-friendly and achieves the highest-possible standards of child-resistance (F=1 rating), keeping at a premium both customer safety and ease-of-use - two ongoing, previously unmet challenges for environmentally sustainable products in the pharmaceutical industry. 
"At Walmart, we are dedicated to quality patient care and have proven that adherence packaging assists in these endeavors," said Sandy Kinsey, Vice President of Pharmacy Merchandising for Walmart.
Ecoslide-RX is a solution for prescription products, physician's samples and clinical trial materials. Ecoslide-RX offers s large, easy-to-read type on all sides and clear, simple opening instructions.
Ecoslide-RX Tests Well Among Both Pharmacists and Consumers
A recent, independent survey of both pharmacists and consumers gave Ecoslide-RX high marks when graded against competing blister solutions and traditional amber vials. Aside from the product's namesake increased environmental sustainability - and lack of associated "landfill guilt" - both groups were impressed with several of Ecoslide-RX's noted benefits, including:
• Ease of Opening. Large, clear directions show users how to unlock the simple child-resistant locking mechanism, which opens with surprisingly little force by a thumb press on a release button located on the corner of the carton's front panel. Inside the outer carton is a film/foil, push-through blister card that slides out when the CR lock is released, yet remains connected to the carton at all times. Once open, the pack offers easier-than-usual push-through pill access.
• Compliance and Safety. Ecoslide-RX offers the full range of heightened compliance and safety benefits that top-rated blister packages enjoy over bottles, including a greatly diminished risk of contamination from dropping, spilling or moisture; increased compliance via a pill reminder/weekly calendar; and additional package printing space enabling large, bold labeling - important for any visually impaired consumers. All of these attributes proved reassuring to pharmacists and consumers participating in the survey.
• Ease of Storage/Transport. Compared to amber vials, Ecoslide-RX is more stackable in medicine cabinets and convenient for use in purses and suitcases. Pharmacists noted that the package was large enough to incorporate the wide range of benefits listed above, yet compact enough to be somewhat discrete.
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The new packaging in the blue packs is TERRIBLE, especially for Seniors with Artheritis. Most Seniors sort their pills by day in a weekly container to ensure they get all their pills and when pills come in the blue container it presents a problem. I pushed in the tab on the back and still could not get the tray out.I ended up using pliars to pull the tab out, the spent 15 minutes with a Zacto knife getting the pills out so I could put them in my weekly container.Every person I've talked to HATES THESE blue packages. I am going to switch to another pharmacy that does not use these.
Sue Kuhn - 2012-30-12 09:35:02 EST -
How is it more eco friendly? It looks like a blister pack to me.
Ka Re - 2012-9-10 14:30:35 EDT
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