How to Use GS1 QR Code for Authenticity of Medication
Protecting the integrity of medicines sold in the market is essential, and GS1 QR codes are a very reliable system. Using GS1 QR codes for authenticity of medication distinguishes between real and fake medicine, avoiding adverse effects on patients caused by counterfeit drugs.
These QR codes contain crucial data regarding the medication’s source and movement through the supply chain, making it easy for consumers, healthcare providers, and regulators to track and authenticate the medication.
Let's understand how GS1 QR codes improve medication authentication. Learn about the different uses of GS1 QR codes and several advantages that advance safe healthcare delivery.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview of GS1 2D Barcodes
GS1 2D barcode is a great step up from the primary form of identification and tracking goods in the marketplace. These codes encompass vital details about the drugs, their manufacturing, batch numbers, and expiry dates. They allow the confirmation of the product's genuineness in real-time, thus improving the supply chain's openness.
Users in healthcare settings, including doctors, patients, and pharmacists, read these codes using smartphones or specialized scanning equipment. This ensures that all stakeholders have the needed information about the products to be marketed.
The applications of GS1 2D barcodes also comply with legislation and reduce the threat of counterfeit drugs, which means that they contribute to improving pharmaceutical products.
Different Ways to Use GS1 QR Code for Healthcare
GS1 QR code for authenticity of medication can be used in multiple ways, including the following:
Supply chain traceability
GS1 barcodes for pharmaceutical tracking provide end-to-end tracking of medicines. Every single QR code shows where the product has been made and where it has been transported.
Manufacturers can use it to follow up on products from manufacturing to delivery. Entities using distributors can be assured that the shipments they receive are authentic.
It also increases confidence that only the manufacturer's genuine products reach the consumer. Supply chain risks can be regulated to ensure compliance with an organization’s standards.
Patient verification
A mechanism to identify medicines is with the application of GS1 QR codes by patients. Using the smartphone to scan the code on the product allows the consumer to get product specifications. This includes:
- Manufacturing information
- Batch number
- Expiry date, etc.
Such transparency increases consumers' trust in pharmaceutical companies. It also teaches patients to refrain from being receptive to fake products.
Therefore, providing the necessary codes to the patients and teaching them how to use them increases their safety.
Pharmacy authentication
Every pharmacist is responsible for ensuring that every brand of medicine distributed in the country is legitimate. They can use GS1 QR code for healthcare to distinguish the right products. This keeps the pharmacy's inventories accurate to avoid the embarrassment of fake reports.
It also avoids prescribing and issuing counterfeit drugs to patients. Identifying products at the point of sale also helps to take extra measures to protect the drugs. This practice enhances the health of the healthcare providers’ environment and makes it safer.
Healthcare provider verification
The healthcare provider also uses medical equipment GS1 barcodes to ensure patient safety, and patients must receive genuine medicines from healthcare providers.
Thus, verifying this information becomes easy with the help of GS1 QR codes. Patients can use the QR Codes to get detailed information on the product. This involves confirming the appropriateness of the medication for the ordered treatment.
It also assists in avoiding specific medical mistakes and adverse effects of drugs. Implementing GS1 QR codes helps properly treat patients in health facilities.
Moreover, it strengthens the patient-doctor relationship since it indicates that doctors cannot be dishonest about their conditions and patients cannot be dishonest about their cases.
Regulatory compliance
This is achieved through traceability, where the GS1 authenticity QR code assists pharmaceutical companies in meeting legal requirements. Drug serialization and traceability are required in many countries around the world, and QR codes are universal in helping to meet these regulations.
It includes all required information for such examinations of institutions and organizations. This involves manufacturing information, batch numbers, and distribution information.
It also ensures that only safe and real drugs get to the marketplace. It is easier to police and regulate drugs by various authorities and embark on regular checks.
Returned product verification by GS1 barcode
Companies must check pharmaceuticals returned to ensure their safety. Originally, there was a verification process for this data, with which GS1 QR codes became very simple.
Thus, the product history can be easily obtained, and as a result, scanning the code is helpful for businesses. This assists in establishing if the product is fit for sale or must be offloaded. It also prevents recycled fakes from entering the market again.
Returned product verification is another important concern in supply chain management since it impacts the overall credibility of the supply chain. It also safeguards consumers' health from dangerous medications.
Inventory Management
The management of inventories is another important factor for any pharmacy and healthcare center. GS1 barcodes make this easier. Scanning the codes constantly refreshes stock records in real-time. This automation also eliminates the chances of human interference in stock management.
It also ensures that inventories are kept up to date. This enables the organization to know the amount of stock available or short in the stores. Stock management minimizes stockouts and excessive stocking.
It helps with proper planning and forecasting within the organization. Maintaining proper stock lists is one method of ensuring productivity in the organization's operation.
Benefits of Using GS1 QR Code for Authenticity of Medication
The following are the advantages of using GS1 digital link QR code in the verification of the credibility of medications:
Real-time verification of medicine
GS1 QR codes are immediate sources of verification. Users can scan the code to verify a medication's legitimacy instantly. This helps ensure that when a patient visits, he only gets legitimate products.
Global Standardization with GS1 QR Code for Authenticity of Medication
QR codes developed by GS1 can ensure elements of standardization worldwide. The same system can be used by pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
This consistency also has advantages in compliance with international regulations and standards in the conduct and operations of the business.
User-friendly Authentication Option
These GS1 QR codes for authenticity of medication are easy to use. Patients, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals can comfortably scan the codes, which greatly contributes to frequent usage and the foolproof execution of the instrument.
Customer Loyalty with Ease of Access
Consumers can also benefit from frequent and easy access to the authenticity QR code checking features, which can result in the formation of initial and long-term customer loyalty.
Consumers believe that brands are verified, and this is well embraced when brands are transparent. This makes consumers loyal to the brands due to the trust that the brands have developed.
Fewer Chances of Medication Fraud
The GS1 QR code for authenticity of medication greatly decreases the risk of medication fraud. It is challenging for counterfeiters to reproduce these codes.
This reduction in fraud saves patients money and retains their confidentiality while preparing them to trust healthcare services.
Scalable and Cheap Security Solution for Medication Manufacturing
The use of QR codes enhances manufacturing security, hence providing a good scalable solution for medication manufacturing.
Companies can easily incorporate these codes without necessarily charging very high costs. This makes it possible for both large and small manufacturing companies, and this is down to scalability.
Implement GS1 QR Codes to Help Customers Ensure Authenticity in Healthcare
GS1 QR code for authenticity of medication is a useful tool in combating counterfeits in the pharmaceutical industry. Using these alternative QR codes, which offer real-time verification, global standards, and easy-to-use authentication ensures that patients get safe and authentic drugs.
It also becomes an instrument that strengthens patients' trust in healthcare systems and pharmaceutical brands. As the future of the healthcare industry unfolds, the incorporation of GS1 QR codes will be of great significance in preserving the authenticity of the medication supply chain and, in turn, public health globally.
Safeguard your patients and your brand. Use the GS1 QR codes for drug authentication today to improve the reliability of tomorrow's healthcare system. Use the GS1 QR Code Generator to incorporate this technology further into your supply chain!
DISCLAIMER: We acknowledge that GS1, as well as the materials, proprietary items, and all related patents, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property (collectively, “intellectual property”) relating to its use, are the property of GS1 Global, and that our use of the same shall be in accordance with the conditions provided by GS1 Global.
