Last week GS1 US published their “2019 Update: Barcode Readability for DSCSA 2023 Interoperability” in conjunction with the Big 3 wholesale distributors, AmerisourceBergen, McKesson and Cardinal Health. You’ve probably already seen it, but probably not like this. Keep reading.
This year there was a significant jump in the percentage of drug products containing the 2D barcode mandated by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). The problem is, for the last three years they have published their data four to five months after they collected the data (see also “Wholesalers Find Troubling Results In DSCSA Barcode Assessment“). What everyone really wants to know is, what percentage of drugs would have been marked with the 2D barcode in November of 2018 and today, not back in June of those years. And with three years’ worth of data, you can make a reasonable extrapolation of the data for the November dates, if you just apply a little spreadsheet and graphics skills. Let’s try it.
Every year I look forward to the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) Traceability Seminar. It’s the one event in the US that is attended by everyone connected with pharma serialization and traceability, including those from manufacturers, 3PLs, repackagers, wholesale distributors, dispensers and solution providers. In that one time and place I can get answers to burning questions about what is going on in the industry and a sense for what people are thinking about a wide range of issues that appear here in RxTrace. The sessions are helpful, but the real goldmine are the hallway conversations. Of course, I’ve written about this before (see “2014 Fall Conference Season Preview” and “Terminology: Track and Trace, and Pedigree”).
Stock photo of actors reenacting the GS1 US discussion group meeting.
I attended the GS1 US Blockchain Discussion Group kickoff meeting on November 28-29 out of curiosity. Fortunately it was held in Chicago so I didn’t need to travel very far. Just a simple commuter train ride from home each day. Any farther and I might not have attended, but I was glad I did. It was great to have the opportunity to Continue reading GS1 Blockchain Discussion Group Kickoff Meeting→
I attended the FDA’s New NDC Format Public Meeting last Monday where I presented my open letter that was last Monday’s RxTrace essay (see “An Open Letter To The FDA: New NDC Format Public Meeting”). After a welcome from Dr. Janet Woodcock, Director, FDA, Center For Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and a brief overview of the purpose of the meeting by Paul Loebach of FDA CDER, there were nine presentations from stakeholders and the public. After each presentation, the FDA panel Continue reading FDA New NDC Format Public Meeting→
I look forward to the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) Traceability Seminar every year because it is where the a very large number of the key members of the US supply chain meet to discuss implementation of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Organizations like the HDA, GS1 US and the FDA often save up their significant news and publications throughout the fall so they can release them with big fanfare at this event. This year was no exception. All three of those organizations made news with their announcements this year. Continue reading 2018 HDA Traceability Seminar Recap→
The ninth year of RxTrace ends on the Fourth of July, 2018. This year has been marked by a resurgence of activity by the FDA aimed at their obligations under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). In the last 12 months we have seen the FDA Continue reading RxTrace: Year Nine→
This example shows a compromise alternative to print both the NDC and the GS1 GTIN in the DSCSA Product Code human readable, following the GS1 General Specifications healthcare human readable guidelines in section 4.14.1
I was a little surprised at how heated the discussion was at the breakfast table back during last year’s Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) Traceability Seminar. I chose an open seat at a table with people from multiple drug manufacturers and someone from GS1 US. Our conversation at the table started out typically—the weather, the previous day’s speakers—the usual. I had recently been thinking about the human readable portion of the Product Identifier mandated by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) (see “The DSCSA Product Identifier On Drug Packages”), so I asked everyone what their company was planning to do? Continue reading Human Readable Text Controversy→
…a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between healthcare supply chains, track and trace technology, standards and global regulatory compliance
DISCLAIMER: RxTrace contains some of the personal thoughts, ideas and opinions of Dirk Rodgers. The material contained in RxTrace is not legal advice. Dirk Rodgers is not a lawyer. The reader must make their own decisions about the accuracy of the opinions expressed in RxTrace. Readers are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel and trading partners before taking any actions based on information found in RxTrace. RxTrace is not a vehicle for communicating the positions of any company, organization or individual other than Dirk Rodgers.
I attended the FDA’s New NDC Format Public Meeting last Monday where I presented my open letter that was last Monday’s RxTrace essay (see “
