The document discusses the regulatory requirements for package inserts in India. Package inserts are documents approved by authorities that are provided with drug packages to inform safe and effective use. In India, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules govern package inserts and require certain information under Section 6 of Schedule D, including therapeutic indications, dosage, administration method, warnings, interactions and adverse effects. Package inserts are primarily intended to inform healthcare professionals but can also include patient information leaflets in non-technical language.

1. Package Insert
Dr. Pankaj Kumar Gupta,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Pharmacology,
ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Faridabad

2. Concept of Package Insert
• Package insert is a document, approved by the
administrative licensing authority, which is
provided with the package of a drug.
• A package insert, primarily directed at the
prescribers, is intended to provide information
for the safe and effective use of the respective
drug. It is also known as Prescription drug
label, Prescribing information, etc

3. Regulatory Requirement
• In India, the concept of package insert is
governed by the ‘Drugs and Cosmetics Act
(1940) and Rules (1945)’.
• Section 6 of Schedule D (II) of the Rules lists
the headings according to which information
should be provided in the package inserts.

4. Schedule D
• ‘Section 6.2’ mandates that the package insert must be
in ‘English’ and must include information on
 Therapeutic indications
 Posology (dosage)
 Method of administration
 Contraindications
 Special warnings and precautions
 Drug interactions
 Contra-indications
 In pregnancy and lactation
 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
 Undesirable effects
 Antidote for overdosing

5. Schedule D
• ‘Section 6.3’ mandates pharmaceutical
information on
 List of excipients
 Incompatibilities
 Shelf life as packaged, after dilution or reconstitution, or
after first opening the container
 Special precautions for storage
 Nature and specification of container
 Instruction for use/handling

6. Significance of package insert
• To provide information for the safe and effective use
of the prescription drug:
– For the Patients (*Patient Information Leaflet)
– For the Healthcare professionals (Doctor, nurses,
pharmacists etc.)
*Patient Information Leaflet- a separate document written in nontechnical language
and intended for the patient

7. Highlights of
USFDA approved
package insert

9. Thank You