2D readers for pharmacies

The EU Anti-Counterfeiting Directive, which comes into force on 9 February 2019, makes it mandatory to label medicines with 2D codes. This does not apply to medicines that are for over-the-counter sale (e.g. charcoal, vitamins) or medicines that can be dispensed without a prescription, but are at risk of counterfeiting (so-called "counterfeit" medicines). These may not be labelled (Article 54(o)).

At the time of sale, the retailer (pharmacy) will have to read the 2D code, see if the medicine is safe and undamaged and invalidate it by reading the code at the time of sale. De-validation means that the sold medicine is removed from the drug store.

The directive is of national significance in that it will not enter the drug chain in the national marketany drug outside the chain of the directive, none that is not entered into the repository by the manufacturer.

The cost of managing the repository is borne by the Czech Republic, all other costs and responsibilities remain with the manufacturers, pharmacies, hospitals. It is unquestionably a greater responsibility, the cost of technology, the development of the information system and greater personnel costs.

The 2D code reader/terminal reads all the information from the medicine - GTIN, batch, serial number, expiry date and can immediately enter it into the information system. Otherwise, these values are manually entered into the information system. It's definitely a big saving on the intake.

If barcode technology is going to be fitted, use it in such a way as to make the most of the need to use a 2D code. The technology should be proven, not expensive, and preferably from a company that can not only service it but also set it up. There is nothing worse than having problems with the technique, or setup, in addition to the problems that the directive is sure to bring - especially in the early and transitional stages.

Implementation:

Due to the existence of the anti-counterfeiting decree in the pharmacy industry, we implemented the sale of 50pcs of Opticon L-51X 2D code readers to a company that manages software for pharmacies in the Czech Republic. This reader not only has an excellent ability to read 2D codes, even on a phone or monitor display, but it has also successfully handled the technical challenges of processing the read code.

The customer required the reader to be able to read characters that are not normally displayed. Such as the code identifier "]d2" and also the separator characters (CHAR29), which allowed the code information to be split for further use in the pharmacy software.

Opticon readers do both to the customer's satisfaction.

In addition, the range has been extended to include a wireless variant of Opticon readers with the OPI 3301i model.