Barcode technology helps pharmacists

Datalogic Scanning, the worlds leading manufacturer of high performance barcode scanners, is helping to tackle the growing problem of counterfeit drugs in the European pharmaceutical industry through its new range of 2D bar code scanners.

Heralded by the EC for their track and trace capabilities, 2D barcode technology enables companies to retain visibility of pharmaceutical products right through the supply chain, ensuring that product are sourced reputably.

Datalogics Magellan 1000i Omni-Directional Imaging Bar Code Scanner is the world's first imaging based presentation scanner, designed for specifically for pharmacies and other medium volume checkout environments. It excels at capturing hard-to-read bar codes in an omni-direction orientation and supports both presentation and sweep scanning styles. It also offers an optional targeted scanning mode for scanning close proximity bar codes like those on a pick list and check lists.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has just announced its support for a pan-European and industry-wide solution to protect patient safety through a more transparent medicine supply chain, championing 2D Data-Matrix Bar Coding, instead of the less reliable and more expensive RFID.

Counterfeit medicines are entering Europes legitimate supply chain in increasing numbers. More than 500,000 medicines were seized at Europes borders in 2005, twice the rate of 2004. According to the World Health Organisation, around one percent of medicines in Europe are now counterfeit.

Medicines counterfeiting is highly sophisticated and it is almost impossible for patients and dispensing healthcare professionals to spot the fakes. There is also a lack of transparency in the legitimate medicines supply chain, which makes it vulnerable to infiltration by counterfeiters.

2D data matrix bar codes printed on packaging during manufacture can provide each medicine with a unique identity before it enters the supply chain. Significant quantities of encrypted information can be stored this way to support pharmacists, regulators and government authorities in the authentication and tracing of individual medicines.

Substituting existing scanners found in most pharmacies with 2D enabled scanners which can read the data matrix codes is seamless and no additional work is required by the pharmacist. Scanned information is transmitted to an independent electronic data hub and a verification message is quickly returned to the dispensing pharmacist.

About Datalogic Scanning, Inc.

Datalogic Scanning, Inc., part of the Datalogic Group, is the recognized #1 worldwide leader in high-performance fixed position retail point-of-sale scanners and the #2 global market leader with the most complete line of general purpose and ruggedized handheld scanners in the industry. Offering a broad array of technology, products, and services in the retail automation and automated data-capture market, Datalogic Scanning supports multiple industries throughout the retail supply chain and distribution channel as well as manufacturing, government, healthcare, banking and finance sectors.

With a presence in over 120 countries, the headquarters, primary development, marketing, and manufacturing facilities for Datalogic Scanning, Inc. are located in Eugene, Oregon, while sales and service offices are located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.