USP adds pharmacy professor to expert health literacy panel

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Monday announced that Radhika Devraj, SIUE School of Pharmacy associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, would be joining the U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention’s Expert Panel on Health Literacy. 

 

The panel works to develop recommendations for standards while also revising standards to promote health literacy. Development will continue on prescription container labeling to support such methodologies as the Universal Medication Schedule, as well as metric dosing of oral liquid medications and indication-based dosing. 

 

“I hope to contribute my expertise related to the health literacy considerations involved in the use of pictograms, labeling and oral dosing to create health friendly standards that will eventually benefit patients of all literacy levels,” Devraj said. 

 

The recommendations from the expert committee are aimed at helping patients navigate the healthcare system and understand such materials as prescription labels and medication guides, aiding in self-care and chronic disease management through patient portals and understanding ideas of risk and probablility. 

 

“Dr. Devraj’s appointment to the USP expert panel is a significant recognition for her and for the School of Pharmacy,” SIUE School of Pharmacy dean Gireesh Gupchup said. “It indicates that USP has recognized her important work in the area of health literacy.”

 

USP sets the standards for the identity, strength, quality and purity of medicines, as well as food ingredient and dietary supplements. The standards are enforceable by the Food and Drug Administration.