With the EU’s Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) coming into force in February 2019, pharmacies are gearing up to comply with the new regulations requiring that all prescription medicines be authenticated before patients receive them.
The FMD aims to safeguard public health by stemming the growing tide of counterfeit medication in the supply chain, no easy task without a significant investment in scanning technology to ensure each medication is authentic and safe for human consumption.
Leveraging nearly three decades in the pharmaceutical industry and proven expertise in the integration of supply-chain traceability solutions, OPTEL has developed an effective and user-friendly solution to ensure pharmacies meet the compliance deadline. This technology is currently being implemented across all branches of one of the UK’s largest retail pharmacy groups.
OPTEL Certa™ Software performs barcode verification as well as “decommissioning” of prescription medications, so when a medication has been dispensed to the patient, its barcode and related data are officially deactivated in the National Medicines Verification System (NMVS) database. By providing fast, safe and secure communication with the NMVS in countries across the EU, this unique, web-based tool provides healthcare professionals with an immediate solution for FMD compliance.
OPTEL Certa Software has been tested and proven in several pilot projects in community pharmacies as well as public and university hospitals across Europe, in conjunction with OPTEL’s scanning hardware. Certa also has the flexibility to integrate into existing pharmacy systems.
In addition to verifying the authenticity of prescription medications, OPTEL Certa Software tracks data, such as expiry dates and recall status, going beyond compliance to optimise time and resources. As a result, pharmacy staff can focus efforts on what matters most: delivering the highest quality of patient care.
Features include a proven solution for immediate FMD compliance, either standalone or integrated into existing pharmacy equipment; efficient customer support and online training; a simple, user-friendly interface; flexibility to integrate into existing systems; and a complete line of compatible, ergonomic devices designed to adapt to all work environments.
Founded in 1989, OPTEL is the leading global provider of traceability systems. The company’s mission is to use its innovative technologies to create a better world through its Intelligent Supply Chain™.
The only company with the ability to offer true end-to-end traceability, providing visibility across the entire supply chain, OPTEL enables
the Intelligent Supply Chain by leveraging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT), to connect all the dots along the product life cycle, from raw materials to the patient.
“With the intensification of traceability and transformative innovations enabled by technological advances such as AI, blockchain and IoT devices, we can now increase the efficiency of supply chains and secure them completely,” says Louis Roy, founder and president of OPTEL GROUP.
OPTEL’s solutions enable diverse industries to benefit from actionable, real-time data to ensure the quality, integrity and authenticity of consumer products, help stop counterfeiting and reduce waste.
Headquartered in Québec City, Canada, with additional facilities in the United States, Ireland, India and Brazil, OPTEL, a Certified B Corporation, has expanded significantly to meet growing industry needs and support its humanitarian values.
For more information, please visit www.optelgroup.com/healthcare
