Track-and-trace specialist GS1 and the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) have teamed up to launch a new initiative to improve patient safety in the Australian healthcare supply chain through the use of global product traceability standards.
The new GS1 Recallnet Healthcare service is an electronic product recall notification management system for therapeutic goods, using product identification techniques such as barcodes to integrate with an online portal to streamline the management of product recall and non-recall notifications in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.
Launched in Sydney at the start of National Supply Chain Week, the new service builds on GS1's previous Recallnet for the food industry.
Introduced in 2011, the previous Recallnet service enables grocery, food and liquor products to be withdrawn or recalled quickly and easily when required.
The new service for healthcare was developed over three years by GS1 Australia in association with NEHTA, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), state and territory health departments and a number of medical device and pharmaceutical suppliers.
“Therapeutic product recalls always present a significant challenge to the Australian healthcare industry and this portal will improve the therapeutic product recall notification process for the benefit and safety of all Australians,” GS1 chief executive, Maria Palazzolo, said.
“Global supply chain standards are the foundation of effective product recall and GS1 global standards are used by millions of companies around the world to enhance the safety, security and efficiency of their supply chains.
“GS1 Recallnet Healthcare will improve patient safety by streamlining the management of product recalls for medicines, implants, medical equipment and medical consumables in the Australian market.”
The new service establishes uniform recall procedures and works with identification standards such as barcodes to allow users to create recall and non-recall notifications and to submit recall notifications to the TGA for review and approval.
Palazzolo said it will offer many benefits, including improved traceability of therapeutic goods; enhanced patient and healthcare provider safety and quality of care; reduced costs for issuing and enacting product recalls; reduced product tracking errors, confusion and re-work; a decrease in the time and effort needed to respond to product recalls; streamlined reporting to the TGA; and increased visibility of recall progress and effectiveness across the chain.
The chief executive of NEHTA, Peter Fleming, said the service would benefit all sectors of the healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chain, from manufacturers, suppliers, pharmaceutical wholesalers and distributors to health departments, pharmacies, hospitals and government agencies.
“By committing to one standardised program, Australian healthcare organisations will ensure the recall of products is as efficient, consistent and immediate as possible,” he said.
GS1 and NEHTA's new Recallnet Healthcare service makes use of product identification standards and online communications to more easily manage the recall of products in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
