Standards for a safer healthcare system
GS1 standards enable the identification and traceability of products, medical devices and locations, connecting information along the entire chain, from manufacturer to patient.
From manufacturer to patient
In healthcare, correct identification has to follow the product all the way. GS1 standards provide a common language that lets manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and hospitals identify and track products and use the same information in their own systems.
Where do they apply?
Medicines and the pharmaceutical industry
Standardised identification supports the serialisation, verification and traceability of medicines along the pharmaceutical chain.
Medical devices
GS1 standards can be used for the unique identification of medical devices and the implementation of UDI requirements.
What GS1 standards bring to healthcare
Precise identification
Products, devices and locations can be identified unambiguously along the chain.
Fewer manual processes
Automatic scanning and data capture reduce the reliance on manual data entry.
Traceability
Standardised identifiers support the tracking of products and logistic units throughout distribution.
Batch and expiry management
Relevant data can be captured automatically and used in receiving, storage and recall processes.
Interoperability
The same identifiers can be used by manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, hospitals and their systems.
Patient safety
Correct identification and access to consistent data support safer medical and logistics processes.
What do GS1 standards identify?
Uniquely identifies medicines and medical devices.
Identifies organisations, hospitals, pharmacies and functional locations.
Identifies pallets and other logistic units throughout distribution.
Allows identifiers and associated data to be represented in a compact 2D symbol.
Standards developed together with the industry
GS1 Healthcare brings together organisations from the pharmaceutical industry, medical devices, healthcare services and the wider ecosystem to develop and implement common standards globally.
GS1 services for the healthcare industry
Pharma and Serialisation
Identification, serialisation and standards for the pharmaceutical chain.
Explore Pharma and SerialisationMEDALOC
Identification and management of functional locations for the processes associated with the national medicines verification system.
Discover MEDALOC