Barcode strategy in war against counterfeit medicines

As the world wide counterfeiting in  pharmaceuticals continues to create serious problems for the industry, the authorities in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, are planning to roll out a coding system in order to track and trace pharmaceutical products through the supply chain. Under the proposal each pack of medicine sold would require a barcode carrying a unique randomised serial number, as well as other information such as the manufacturer, batch number, expiry date, and dosage strength. ??

The labeling system will also include a human-readable code to allow patients to verify the product themselves using their telephone.??The system will allow verification of the barcode at the point of dispensing in order to prevent counterfeit, expired or otherwise illegal medicines reaching patients. ??

Meanwhile, the UAE as a whole is implementing a ban on re-exporting of pharmaceuticals from its ports, in recognition that it is used as a major staging post for counterfeit pharmaceuticals in transit to other world markets, including the EU.  It is also increasing the legal penalties for those found guilty of involvement in the trade.

Read more here