WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has begun providing ScripTalk talking prescription labels for prescriptions ordered for home delivery through its CVS.com online pharmacy.

CVS said Tuesday that the ScripTalk labels enable people who can’t read standard print to access information on prescription labels.

The labels are free to CVS.com pharmacy customers who are blind or visually impaired. Customers can also get a free ScripTalk reader from Envision America that will allow them to listen to the information on the ScripTalk label.

"We are pleased to offer the ScripTalk service to our online pharmacy customers who are visually impaired," Josh Flum, senior vice president of retail pharmacy at CVS Caremark Corp., said in a statement. "Enhancing access to important information about prescriptions is in keeping with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health."

CVS said the talking prescription labels stem from a collaboration between CVS/pharmacy, the American Foundation for the Blind, American Council of the Blind and California Council of the Blind.

"The lack of accessible labels on prescription drug containers puts people with vision loss at serious risk of medication mishaps," stated Paul Schroeder, vice president of programs and policy at the American Foundation for the Blind. "We applaud CVS/pharmacy for taking steps to provide speech access to label information for customers with vision loss along with its willingness to evaluate methods to improve large print labels."

Kim Charlson, president of the American Council of the Blind, commented, "This agreement is a positive step that allows for a greater level of privacy, safety and independence for blind and visually impaired Americans of all ages who take prescription medications."

Because of the talking labels program, people who are blind or visually impaired who use CVS mail order to fill their prescriptions will have the same access to label information as other customers, noted Donna Pomerantz, president of the California Council of the Blind.

"The California Council of the Blind applauds CVS’s willingness to offer access to the information on prescription medication labels," she stated.