Prescribers new to New Zealand may prescribe using the INN while medicines in New Zealand are still labelled with the BAN. Alternatively, prescribers may prescribe using the BAN but the medicine is labelled with the INN. This can be confusing to both health professionals and patients. SQM Group are grateful to Hawkes Bay DHB for allowing the reproduction of a poster illustrating some common INNs and BANs that may cause confusion.

INNs v BANs poster