March 27, 2013:
Health Canada Draft Revised Guidance Document for Industry: Review of Drug Names for Look-alike Sound-alike (LASA) Attributes
Health Canada is working to address issues regarding potentially confusable look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medication names. As part of its effort to provide more detailed direction to product sponsors on the name -assessment process and the information required to be submitted, Health Canada recently released a revised guidance document on the review of proposed new drug names. The draft guidance document outlines the steps that sponsors (e.g., manufacturers) are to follow to determine the potential of a proposed drug name being confused with the name of another product already authorized for use in Canada. The aim is to reduce the potential for medication errors.A copy of the draft guidance document is available from:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/consultation/medeff/_2013/lasa-pspcs/index-eng.php.
Feedback and comments from various stakeholders are an important part of the consultation process for the draft guidance document. Health Canada is seeking such input by April 19, 2013.
ISMP Canada encourages all stakeholders, including practitioners involved in medication -use processes, to review the draft document and send their comments to Health Canada:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/consultation/medeff/_2013/lasa-pspcs/index-eng.php.
