The need for inclusive and barrier-free healthcare solutions is becoming increasingly clear. People with physical disabilities are a particular focus here. Inclusion is the keyword. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 16 percent of the world's population is currently confronted with significant disabilities. These people are often dependent on carers, especially when it comes to administering therapies. New user-friendly and easily accessible healthcare and packaging solutions are therefore needed.
The demographic landscape is also shifting towards an older population. As individuals age, they are more likely to suffer from multiple conditions simultaneously, leading to complex health conditions that require comprehensive and customised healthcare approaches. Mental health problems can affect a person's ability to fulfil their medicines, so that user-friendly packaging solutions can be developed and are an important aspect of the treatment.
Packaging requirements
The main function of pharmaceutical packaging has traditionally been to protect the contents and prevent accidental consumption. However, this focus must go hand in hand with accessibility and ease of use without compromising safety. The pharmaceutical industry has recognised this challenge and is focusing on innovative solutions to create a Integrative and accessible design to create. More and more products are being developed according to a „user-centred“ approach, a design method that takes the prioritises the needs of users and aims to improve the experience for all users regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities - in other words, inclusively.
Bormioli Pharma is part of this paradigm shift. The company is at the forefront of research into more inclusive packaging and is introducing features that improve usability for people with disabilities. This process includes a Co-design approach with the pharmaceutical industry, which develops new solutions that take both integration and safety into account.
To better understand the needs of people with disabilities, the company created a comprehensive analytical framework in 2021. Detailed ethnographic research was conducted, including focus groups and individual interviews. This in-depth research provided valuable insights into the particular challenges faced by people with disabilities. People with disabilities and older people handling pharmaceutical packaging face.
Inclusion through the packaging
By developing and implementing innovations for pharmaceutical packaging, progress is being made in improving inclusion within the packaging industry. This means that the Rethinking the structure and functions of the parts of pharmaceutical containers as various prototypes show. These prototypes are integrative through ergonomic features or IoT-supported user-friendliness and signal a promising future for pharmaceutical packaging.
With UApt, Bormioli Pharma has developed an all-in-one solution that offers a Precise liquid dosing directly into the built-in measuring cup via a „Push&Pump“ system. This design reduces the risk of dosing errors and makes administering medication easier for people with limited dexterity.
UToo is a dual-chamber solution with bottle and measuring cup, where the fluid exchange is activated by pressing a larger, highly visible, coloured button. This design not only improves visibility, but also includes additional easy-grip features that make it easier for people with limited hand strength to handle the bottle. This Packaging solutions promote the independence of people with disabilities and enable them to manage the administration of liquid medication independently.
Bormioli Pharma is also integrating the Internet of Things in order to improve the user-friendliness of the products and to recognise them with biometric recognition systems. To this end, various prototypes have been developed that are user-friendly and Additional information for the patient or carer about the administration of therapy provide. The packaging solutions have been designed as smart IoT devices that can be connected to a personalised app that allows patients to dose their medication and send them medication adherence notifications.
Pharmaceutical packaging in the future
In the past, the protection of the medicine has been prioritised over ease of use in the development of pharmaceutical packaging, particularly in light of regulations requiring tamper evident closures. Given the increasing need for medicines among people who are unable to care for themselves, the development of new solutions to facilitate the administration process is crucial to ensure a better user experience for both vulnerable and non-vulnerable patients.
