Good Storage Practices (GSPs) play an integral role in various Pharmaceutical and Pharmacovigilance-oriented companies, organizations and institutions. Each one of them is required to demonstrate not only efficient management but also efficient storage of pharmaceutical products. Such efficient storage of drugs is essential because it will that the potency and the physical integrity of medicaments are preserved and kept. What is more, GSPs are activities which generally prevent deterioration and ensure that the quality and safety of drugs are also maintained. All storage conditions for medical materials and products are expected to be compliant with products’ labelling.
Definition
Good Pharmaceutical Storage Practices is often accompanied by the concept of Good Distribution Practice (GDP) because both of them are included in the medical products’ management chain. In this regard just like GDPs, GSPs is also part of the Quality Management System. Precisely, GSPs represent this part which makes sure that the quality of drugs is well-preserved. This is done through monitoring and controlling a number of procedures which are closely linked to storage processes. To present this differently, GSPs could be envisioned as a compilation of measures that should be taken into consideration when it comes to the safe-keeping of pharma and medical products.
These measures aim at promising that the products will preserve their quality nature when they reach patients and their consumption will not result in unanticipated conditions. Just as stated before, every establishment which operates in the Pharma or Health industry in general and deals with storing should integrate such practices into their everyday activities. Why? Because by following good storage principles, companies will introduce the best and most endurable products at the end. Such establishments include:
- Herbal Pharma stores
- Medical stores
- Public and private pharmacies
- Health Food stores
- Stores which have the purpose to storedrugs at healthestablishments like Public Healthcare institutions and hospitals
Risks and How to Avoid Them
Despite the huge significance of GSPs, there has not been much emphasis on them in a global aspect. As a result some institutions which function in the Pharma sector are unable to understand the disadvantageous consequences of not introducing, developing and firmly establishing activities which control the storing of medicinal products. Such consequences reflect on the quality of Pharmaceutical products and their practical feasibility as well. Another factor which influence the process is when there are control activities but they are not carried out in the proper and most productive manner. Thus, In order to avoid inadequate control over different activities that take place during the storage process there should be qualified personnel. The staff is also required to have received substantial training and to show sufficient knowledge in relation to safety procedures, Good Storage Practices, and GSP regulations.
Documentation
Just as in any other Good Practice, GSPs should also be supported by electronic or written records of all storage processes. The formal comprehensive documentation is expected to outline the storage activities in a precise way.
To sum up, Good Storage Practices have quality-ensuring and quality-maintaining functions in relation to medicinal products up to the point of their use. There are pharmaceutical products that need specific conditions to be stored within and come with distinctive guidelines on how exactly to be stored so that their quality is preserved. The companies and organizations which are required to adopt GSPs are all of these that function within the Pharma, Clinical and Medical field.
Acknowledging the huge role of GSP in the Pharma industry, Astra Nova is organizing an informative and useful training that will cover different GSP aspects and significances.
PDF Version of this article available here: https://crotraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Good-Storage-Practice.pdf
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