Product traceability means that at each step of the distribution chain the party concerned is able to manage lot and/or serial numbers and expiry dates of items destined for use in healthcare processes.

Tracking and tracing is increasingly vital in the healthcare sector, especially in the hospital environment. It is an essential element in any strategy for reducing medical error.

All healthcare actors are now confronted with the crucial need to improve accurate tracking of products to the point the patient receives them. It is a process that the industry has learned how to manage, driven by the need for quality improvements as a result of competitive activity, government regulations and public opinion.

A great deal of progress has already been made, but total data management from manufacturer to patient is far from being fully realised. Successful initiatives, for the most part based on the GS1 System, have much to contribute in this area.

Medical device producers are extremely keen to integrate the necessary tracking information in barcodes to enable customers to capture data and integrate them in electronic patient files. The pharmaceutical industry has had to overcome significant technical difficulties in order to be able to compact data onto blisterised tablets and vials.