COMMUNITIES in Bangladesh and Mexico are cooperating with British government and voluntary organisations to test new and Inexpensive ways of packaging medicines in developing countries.

In these areas, medication is often handed out loose, or merely folded in paper or the Cittent's clothing, and simi-r—looking medicines can easily be confused. Rain has even been known to dissolve some medicines before patients reach home, while others, unlabelled, have been wrongly administered and caused poisoning.

With support from Britain's Over Development Administration (ODA) and the London— based charity Appropriate Health Resources and Technologies Action Group (AHRTAO), two types of packaging machine have been de-

signed and tested in Bangladesh.

One granulates and then remoulds waste plastic into small containers and measuring spoons. The other stamps out shapes from waste paper and card that can be folded into boxes and envelopes.

Both types are simple to operate and maintain and use materials that are usually free. Operating them can also provide occupational therapy for long-term hospital patients.

Income Generation

Some of the machines were modified in Britain and sent to AJoya, a highland village In western Mexico with a population of about 1500, for further trials. Most of the people testing the machines are disabled and in need of low—cost rehabilitative work.

"They are always looking for rehabilitation and income -gen -

erating activities," said Martin Long, AHRTAG’s project development officer, who visited Mexico in 1990 to set up the tests and train local staff in the operation and maintenance of the machines.

Waste plastic for the tests was collected locally from a workshop manufacturing artificial limbs. The packaging -machines had been converted to take Mexican voltage and Spanish instructions were supplied.

AHRTAG is assessing the response to the machines and the new packaging. It is also Interested in the reactions of pharmacists and dispensers and in whether patients find It easier to follow prescriptions when medicines are properly packaged.

If the project is successful, the technology will be made available throughout the developing world. (LPS)