The use of GS1 standards to improve the drugs traceability system in a 3PL Logistic Service Provider

Abstract

The present research has been made based on the analysis of the operation of a 3PL Medication Logistic Service Provider in Cuba. This entity is responsible for managing the distribution of medications to guarantee their offer in health care facilities and communal pharmacies all over the country. The nonexistence of a unique identification and the non-use of international encoding standards for the products in their transit through the chain of supply, the lack of computerization of some fundamental data to support their tracing and incongruences in the readable data found using the entity´s software were the main deficiencies obtained from a diagnosis made to its traceability system. The proposed solutions are centered on a traceability plan conceived by the company from a strategic vision and in a unique-code products procedure for their distribution and merchandising under GS1 international standards.

Keywords

• coding system
• international standards GS1
• traceability system