The Role of GS1 Barcodes for Pharmaceutical Tracking

Tracking pharmaceuticals is crucial for safety, transparency, and reducing counterfeit risks.

GS1 barcodes for pharmaceutical tracking play a key role in this process, allowing medicines to be traced through every part of the supply chain.

Counterfeit medicines are a major global concern, with a report from the World Health Organization estimating that they cause over 1 million deaths annually.

To address this, a 2022 study revealed that 85% of global pharmaceutical companies now rely on GS1 QR codes for traceability and compliance.

By implementing them to track pharmaceutical products, the industry can improve transparency and ensure patient safety.

Read on to learn how using GS1 barcodes can help ensure more secure medication production, distribution, and administration.

What are the GS1 standards for pharmaceuticals?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 10.5% of medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified.

The barcode standards from Global Standards 1 ensure accuracy and efficiency in the supply chain and meet regulatory requirements among and between trading partners.

With rising concerns over counterfeit medicines and patient safety, these standards provide a reliable framework to enhance transparency and productivity.

Key standards for pharmaceuticals include:

• GTIN (Global Trade Item Number): Unique product identification.

• GS1 DataMatrix: A 2D barcode used for medicine packaging.

• SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code): This tracks shipments.

• GLN (Global Location Number): Identifies locations like warehouses or hospitals.

These standards help reduce this risk by enabling accurate tracking and authentication. Benefits of GS1 traceability standards include:

• Improved traceability to prevent counterfeits.

• Faster recalls in case of faulty medicines.

• Regulatory compliance with global laws like the EU Falsified Medicines Directive.

How do GS1 barcodes for pharmaceutical tracking work

Tracking pharmaceutical products is vital to ensure safety and reduce counterfeits. Counterfeit drugs cause over $200 billion in losses globally each year, put lives at risk, and harm the healthcare system.

Reliable tracking methods are crucial. GS1 barcodes for pharmaceutical tracking enable seamless product monitoring. Here’s an A-Z guide on how they work:

Assigning unique product identifiers

Per the GS1 Serialization Guidelines, each pharmaceutical product gets a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN).

This unique code identifies the product and contains details like the product’s name, batch number, and expiry date. These details are encoded into a GS1 barcode.

Manufacturers then print this barcode on the product’s packaging, which ensures accurate identification and traceability throughout the supply chain.

Scanning at supply chain touchpoints

Barcodes are scanned at different points in the supply chain, such as:

• Manufacturing units

• Distribution centers

• Retail pharmacies

• Hospitals or clinics

Each scan records the product’s location and status, ensuring visibility as it moves from one place to another.

Real-time data integration and analytics

When barcodes are scanned, the data is instantly uploaded to a central system, which tracks the pharmaceutical product in real time.

Stakeholders can see where the product is, whether it’s delivered, or if there’s any issue. Real-time tracking:

• reduces counterfeit risks;

• ensures timely delivery and

• improves stock management.

How to implement GS1 healthcare standards in pharmaceutical for transparency

Implementing the barcode standards in the pharmaceutical industry helps improve transparency, safety, and trust. These steps ensure proper integration and compliance with global requirements:

Understand the standards

Understanding the standards is crucial for implementation. Key standards include GTIN for product identification, GS1 DataMatrix for detailed product data, and GLN for location tracking.

Identify which standards suit your supply chain to ensure smooth integration.

Register with GS1

By obtaining a GS1 company prefix, you can create unique identifiers for your products, locations, and shipments.

This ensures that each item in your supply chain has a distinct and traceable identifier, which helps maintain accuracy and consistency across your operations.

Label products with barcodes

Labeling products with GS1 DataMatrix barcodes ensures accurate traceability. These barcodes store key details like batch number, expiry date, and serial number. You can create them in bulk using a GS1 QR code generator online.

Clear printing and proper placement on packaging are essential to avoid scanning errors. This step improves transparency and ensures compliance with global standards.

Adopt a traceability system

Implement software that supports GS1 QR codes for real-time tracking and data sharing and use EPCIS to monitor product movement throughout the supply chain.

Train your team

Educate your staff on how to use GS1 barcodes, identifiers, and traceability systems. This will streamline processes and reduce errors.

Proper training helps supply chain employees understand their role in maintaining product integrity and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Collaborate with partners

Sharing GS1-compliant data with suppliers, distributors, and regulators helps you create a transparent and organized supply chain.

This collaboration ensures everyone can access accurate, real-time information, enhancing traceability and compliance across the entire pharmaceutical network.

Use a foolproof GS1 QR code generator to create barcodes for tracking pharmaceutical products

By 2027, GS1 codes will become the ultimate language for businesses across industries.

Implementing GS1 barcodes for pharmaceutical tracking now is essential in building a more secure and transparent supply chain.

Real-time tracking and data sharing across the supply chain via these codes provide better visibility and faster responses in case of issues. Moreover, collaboration with partners and proper staff training ensure seamless integration and compliance.

Pharmaceutical companies can significantly improve product traceability by relying only on a GS1 barcode generator that produces high-quality, trackable barcodes and prioritizes data privacy safety.

QR TIGER is an ISO 27001-certified Digital Link QR code provider that offers businesses and consumers the highest levels of data security.

It’s a trusted platform by over 850,000 brands worldwide, making it the best QR code software for enterprises looking to future-proof their business operations.

You can contact their team anytime to learn how to effectively use various GS1 barcode QR code solutions for your company.