How can GS1 standards improve safety and efficiency of care delivery when many products we use don’t have barcodes?

The majority of manufacturers/suppliers of medicines and medical devices already have identifiers and barcodes meeting GS1 standards on their products.  Many are providing product data using GS1’s Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) standard, and others have GS1 EDI capabilities. 

Whilst there is variation between markets the majority of pharmaceuticals and medical devices traded throughout the world carry GS1 barcodes.

Due to Unique Device Identification regulation in many regions/countries, it will progressively become mandatory for medical devices to present a standard identifier encoded in a standard barcode. Due to serialisation regulations in Europe, the United States, Brazil, South Korea, etc, pharmaceutical products will have to present a standard DataMatrix and a standard identifier (in many legislations the GS1 Global Trade Item Number).

To assess percentage of GS1 barcodes on pharmaceutical and medical device packaging in your environment, it is recommended that you use the Healthcare Demo Scanner Survey Tool.  Your local GS1 MO can assist you in using this tool to assess the actual situation in your department and plan a course of action.

GS1 GDSN and EDI standards capabilities also vary between markets, with a number of countries moving forward with both sets of GS1 standards. For more information refer to http://www.gs1.org/healthcare .