In modern day healthcare the medicines supply chain process is complex and often fragmented. From the point of manufacture to distribution to the wholesaler, to patient administration, supporting the five rights of medicine administration (right patient, right drug, right dose, right route and right time) requires accurate and reliable information in terms of the medicine itself. At the heart of this capability is a critical enabler, the barcode, specifically the GS1 2D DataMatrix which includes the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), a unique product identifier.
The growing challenge
Since the UK’s departure from the EU, the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) no longer applies. Under FMD, all prescription medicines carried a serialised 2D barcode and tamper-evident seal, enabling verification of authenticity, batch and expiry prior to dispensing.
With this requirement removed, increasing numbers of medicines are arriving in the UK supply chain without GS1 2D DataMatrix barcodes, creating challenges for NHS digital workflows and reducing the reliability of digital medicines management processes.
Creating a single source of truth
The GS1 2D DataMatrix barcode encodes key product information, including the GTIN, batch number, expiry date and serial number. The GS1 2D DataMatrix creates a digital ‘fingerprint’ for every medicine pack, allowing it to be uniquely identified and tracked at every stage of the supply chain. With the increasing adoption of digital technologies including closed-loop medicines management and automation, the 2D DataMatrix barcode is fundamental to enabling these solutions to operate effectively in practice.
When used within closed-loop medicines management, barcode scanning enables accurate, real-time data capture across the entire pathway, from goods receipt and dispensing to administration to the patient. This reduces reliance on manual processes, supports patient safety, strengthens governance and improves stock management.
Enabling end-to-end traceability
Barcode scanning underpins automation within pharmacy and supply chain workflows. It supports automated goods receipt and inventory management, robotic dispensing systems, real-time stock visibility, and reduced manual data entry and associated errors. When the barcode data is accurate, these systems can operate reliably and efficiently to release time back to patient care (Figure 1 shows the use of the GTIN in the pharmacy medicines pathway).
A national priority
The need for robust traceability has been recognised at a national level. The UK House of Lords Public Services Committee’s 2026 inquiry into medicines security, highlighted the importance of supply chain resilience and recommended accelerating digitisation, including mandating the use of 2D barcodes.
Without a scannable barcode, these capabilities cannot be realised.
Patient safety
The patient safety benefits of barcode scanning in medicines management are well established by organisations that have implemented digital solutions across pharmacy and nursing workflows. Within closed-loop medicines management, barcode scanning plays a critical role in ensuring the accurate verification of medicines at each stage of the patient journey.
These safety benefits, however, are fundamentally dependent on the consistent presence of high-quality, accurate barcodes on every medicine pack. Where barcodes are missing, incomplete, or inaccurate, digital systems cannot operate as intended. This undermines the integrity of closed-loop processes, removes the potential patient safety benefits gained from scanning, and potentially increased the chance of medication errors.
Strengthening product recall management
Barcode enabled traceability is essential for effective product recall management. It allows affected batches to be identified quickly and for products to can be traced to specific patients or locations. This enables faster, more targeted recalls to be carried out with minimal disruption. Without barcodes product recalls can be time consuming and reliant on manual processes.
Conclusion
Barcodes are no longer a ‘nice to have’ in healthcare, they are critical for a safe, efficient and resilient medicines supply chain. By enabling accurate identification, end-to-end traceability and real time data capture, barcode technology underpins safer patient care, faster responses to product recalls and greater operational efficiency.
As healthcare systems continue to digitise, and if the National Health Service (NHS) 10 Year Health Plan is to be realised, the consistent adoption of NHS and GS1 standards across the medicines supply chain will be essential in delivering safer, more effective and resilient services.
Reference
- House of Lords – Medicines Security – medicines security – a national priority – public services committee. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/pubserv/252/25202.htm (Accessed: 20 May 2026)
