How can GS1 standards help?

GS1 Standards enable the realisation in the healthcare sector of all health and economic benefits related to automatic identification, traceability, and data synchronisation.

The GS1 System of standards includes:

• GS1 Identification Keys: numbering schemas for products, locations, patients, caregivers, and assets
• GS1 Bar Codes: several types of bar code, linear and 2-dimensional, for use by GS1 members depending on the application
• GS1 EPCglobal: supporting the use of radio frequency identification
• GS1 GDSN: ensuring global data synchronisation and accurate product data across supply chain partners
• GS1 eCom: supporting electronic document interchange technologies

What’s in it for me?

Automatic Identification technologies provide the opportunity to increase the efficiency, integrity and accuracy of the Healthcare supply chain, which can lead to improved patient safety.

• Automatic identification at point of care and robotic dispensing systems reduce medication errors
• Traceability and authentication reduce counterfeiting and enable efficient and effective product recalls
• Automatically capturing the unique identification of a product with a bar code or RFID tag at every stage makes supply chain management more accurate and efficient

Benefits for hospital and pharmacy retailers

• Reduction in medication errors through efficient automatic identification
• Positive patient identification
• Efficient traceability
• Efficient product authentication
• Cost reduction through increased supply chain efficiency:
• Improved order and invoice process
• Optimised receiving
• Reduced inventory
• Increased productivity
• Improved product recall
• Improved shelf management
• Improved service levels/fill rate
• Improved benchmarking and management of supply cost
• Eliminates need for re-labelling and proprietary codes

Benefits for manufacturers

• Efficient traceability
• Improved production process and supply chain management
• Optimisation of production process
• Optimisation of warehousing and shipping
• Brand protection
  

Benefits for wholesalers & distributors

• Efficient traceability
• Efficient product authentication
• Simplification and accuracy improvement in order process, warehousing, shipping, and invoicing
• Regulatory compliance

Please click here for a pictorial overview on where GS1 Standards can be used in the Healthcare Supply Chain.