As many as 200 drug ingredient names are set to change later this year as the TGA moves to bring out-dated Australian drug names in line with international standards.
While most other countries follow the naming system developed by the World Health Organization, Australia bucked the trend following its own unique naming protocol – the Australian Approved Names (AANs) system.
But the TGA now says that system is confusing.
The drug regulator, who first announced the changes in 2016 as part of its International Harmonisation of Ingredient Names (IHIN) reform, says the update will reduce confusion for doctors who have trained or practiced overseas as well as patients and practitioners who travel internationally.
Writing in Australian Prescriber, Jerry Yik, policy analyst for the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, has welcomed the move but acknowledged that there are short-term risks to changing drug names that doctors will need to help their patients overcome.
For instance, people with low health literacy rates can be put at risk of further medication errors.
“It is our responsibility as health professionals to convey these changes to patients to minimise confusion,” he said.
Many of the changes are expected to be either minor spelling differences or the addition of the hydration or salt to complete the drug name.
A four-year transition period for these changes started in April 2016 and will end in April 2020.