§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps to ensure that dosage directions are clearly marked on drug containers and that the words "take as before" or "take as directed" are not written when no further directions are specified on the container; and
Whether they will take steps to ensure that all drugs dispensed or otherwise have their active ingredients clearly indicated on the container.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)A doctor will prescribe a course of treatment which is specific to an individual patient. When these dosage directions are written on the prescription form they should then be put on the label which the pharmacist attaches to the medicine. When the pharmacist does not know the precise dosage instructions the doctor has given, the words "take as directed" may be shown on the label. The United Kingdom Labelling and Leaflet Regulations require manufactures to provide details of the brand name and the active ingredient (the common name of the medicine) on the container and outer package of all medicines.