Press Release : PPLA
Washington, D.C. (August 15, 2024) – A recent journal article from the Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research demonstrates the fatal consequences of medication non-adherence.
The term medication non-adherence refers to failures in taking medications as prescribed by a physician. Medication non-adherence often stems from a lack of health literacy and poses serious risks to public health.
Facts about medication non-adherence:
- Up to 50% of patients worldwide fall victim to medication non-adherence.
- In the US, medication non-adherence causes approximately 125,000 deaths annually.
- Medication non-adherence is linked to 10% of hospital admissions and about $289 billion in healthcare costs.
- A major cause of medication non-adherence is inadequate patient education due to the lack of effective communication of medication information and the lack of clear instructions.
Medication information plays a crucial role in educating patients about their prescriptions, but there is no federal standard for the quality or content of medication information. To address this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed a rule to standardize Patient Medication Information (PMI). However, the rule hurts patient safety by implementing an ineffective format and favoring digital PMI over printed versions. Americans rely on printed medication information, especially older and rural Americans without sufficient access to broadband or the technology skills needed to use digital PMI.
That’s why PPLA is calling on Congress to pass the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act (H.R. 1173). This legislation would guarantee that all Americans receive effective, printed PMI with every prescription.
The Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association
Chartered in 2001, the PPLA serves as the voice for our members, advocating for patient safety and risk communication by fighting to keep information on paper and readily accessible for patients and caregivers. This information helps drive the patient involvement model of health care, helping patients get the maximum benefits from the powerful drugs they take while minimizing risk.
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