Scanning reduces dispensing errors
RFID technology can help identify fraudulent medicines at the point of
dispensing, according to a large-scale study by Aegate (a PA group
company).
In the study, which involved six drug manufacturers and 44 pharmacies,
approximately 20,000 products were tagged with either a barcode or RFID
tag containing a unique number.
When checked with Aegate’s custom-built scanner, the drug was
authenticated if it matched details on a secure database and rejected if
not recognised.
The trial demonstrated that the simple scanning process can reduce the
risk of errors as well as alerting dispensers to illegal, expired or
recalled products before they are given to a patient. Several recalls
occurred during the pilot and real-time notices were provided to
dispensers as they scanned the items.
One in four of the pharmacies that took part opted to keep the scanner
after the pilot ended.
Source: bjhc&im May 2005
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