COLUMN: U.S. needs drug labels for the blind
Another installment of 'Seeing Without Sight'
A few weeks ago, I was afflicted with what turned out to be an obnoxious viral infection that affected my nasal cavities and sinuses – tis the season!
After several miserable days of missing numerous classes and trying to fight it off myself, I was prescribed multiple medications to alleviate the symptoms.
That’s all fine and dandy, but what you must understand up front is that I have a print disability that prevents me from being able to read conventional printed text despite the font size.
This creates an extremely frustrating situation when it comes to identifying the proper dosages, times and amounts on prescription labels. Sure, I can ask a friend, family member or the pharmacist to read what it says – all individuals whom I sincerely trust when it comes to solving such a dilemma – but should that be necessary?
Absolutely not.
It’s almost the end of 2014; scientists have started figuring out how to regenerate genital organs for both males and females. I’ll admit: That’s pretty awesome. But shouldn’t blind people and other individuals with print disabilities be able to have access to quality, affordable and accessible prescription materials?
This should, without question, be starting from the top. According to their 2013 full reports, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer – the two most profitable pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. – generated $71.3 billion and $51.6 billion, respectively.
Companies generating such astronomical feats of wealth can and ought to at least attempt to make an effort to work to make their medication labels accessible to everyone. That may mean working with pharmacists, medical practitioners and patients directly, incorporating Braille or other solutions based on an individual consumer’s needs and requirements.
The next and, what I envision to be, the most realistic solution is for patients to advocate for themselves. There are various delivery methods for providing accessible prescription drug container labels, some of which are outlined in a report published by the American Council of the Blind on July 10, 2013. These methods include hard copy Braille, large print and dedicated electronic equipment.
There has also been some initial legislative action regarding this issue – in 2012, President Barack Obama signed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, which includes measures to promote drug safety and to improve FDA procedures for reviewing new medicines and medical devices. In addition, a section of this act allows the Access Board to develop best and most efficient practices for making information on prescription drug container labels accessible to people who are blind or visually-impaired or who are elderly.
It is evident that work has begun in order to make prescription medication labels accessible to those who are blind or low-vision. However, it is going to take work from all sides—drug companies, advocacy groups and various legislative bodies.
It may be a long, arduous task, but some day I believe we will live in a country where health care is not only affordable and available to every citizen, but with the accessible implementation of drug labels for all consumers no matter their physical limitations.