All EU FMD pack codes include 4 compulsory elements, the Product Code, Serial Number, Batch and Expiry Date. The combination of these 4 elements uniquely identify a pack. SecurMed are ramping up for a 5th Element to be included within UK FMD codes. This is the Actual Medicinal Product Pack (AMPP) code. It fits into […]
The EU and UK FMD system is secured to ensure that only appropriate bodies are able to access the system. This ensures that any changing of a FMD pack’s status can only be made by those who have a right and a need to do so. Indeed without the necessary permission it is not possible […]
The Serialogical Software just like all the other FMD solutions serves to interpret the data read from pharmaceutical product packs, securely send that data to the NMVS and return a meaningful message to the end user. Hopefully that will be a confirmation that the product is genuine and that any related action such as dispensing […]
How the pharmacist can work with prescriptions in FMD The combination of serial number, product code, batch number and date is unique for each FMD labelled packet. This means that having access to one or more packets even within the same batch will not enable any other codes to be calculated. The concept of aggregation […]
Capturing FMD data matrix barcodes with a scanner As the FMD implementation deadline approaches verifiers and dispensers will need to consider how to capture the serialisation unique identifier codes. The codes may be read from the product package and typed in or a supplier could provide codes linked to a shipment as an electronic file. […]
The black market for NHS drugs One of the many problems facing the NHS today is the widespread distribution of prescription drugs outside the legal supply chain. One particular set of drugs falls under the umbrella term of Benzodiazepines, such as Diazepam (Valium) and Nitrazepam. Benzodiazepines are psychoactive drugs, often described as minor tranquilisers, and […]
Working within the FMD The EU FMD project is designed to ensure that only genuine prescription drugs can be dispensed. The authorised manufacturer seals the packet and affixes a unique code. At the point of dispense that code is checked and if valid and not already decommissioned the drug can be dispensed. The process is […]
Looking Inside the Barcodes The new barcodes for the FMD are 2-dimensional data matrix codes. These look similar to the more common QR barcodes but do not work the same way. Although the unique identification number contained within the data matrix code will be displayed in clear text next to the code the length and […]
The Cinderella of Serialisation In the pharmaceutical industry the parallel distributor buys licensed medicines from one market and then sells them on to another. The European Union, European Free Trade Area and United Kingdom will be implementing new serialisation laws from February 2019 that could considerably increase the workload of these parallel distributors. These laws, […]
