What Is A Drug Verification System?
The invention of a drug verification system is the authorities’ response to the growing problem of counterfeit medicines. In today’s article, we will present everything you need to know about this topic.
Risks associated with counterfeit medicines
Counterfeit medicines are the result of criminal action against the pharmaceutical industry and governments. On the one hand, people who make such products do not pay taxes, and on the other hand, counterfeit medicines can endanger the health of those who use them.
Therefore, patients risk taking drugs that do not contain the active substances needed to combat the diseases they suffer from. At the same time, they could ingest toxic products or products that cause very serious side effects.
Objectives of a drug verification system
The main objective of drug verification systems is to define the guidelines, safety framework and technical perceptions associated with pharmaceuticals. All this allows the identification and verification of the authenticity of medicines sold in pharmacies or online.
The security measures introduced aim at identifying medicines by means of printed codes and security devices attached to the outside of the packaging. This strengthens control measures at pharmacies that distribute medicines via the Internet and increases the requirements for registration as a wholesaler.
Due to these measures, there is a register of all medicines entering and leaving pharmacies, including those operating online or in hospitals.
What are the benefits of a drug verification system?
- Unique codes and other means of identification for each drug;
- A unified and consolidated database for the whole industry, for traders and for the administration;
- Checking medicines at distribution points;
- Ensuring patient safety and, at the same time, protecting the right to privacy;
- Taking advantage of the global benefits of universal identification of all drugs;
- Assign a unique serial number to each drug;
- Simplification of security measures, which will become more reliable and stronger;
- Encourage the involvement of all branches of the pharmaceutical system.
Safety measures
The safety measures imposed by the European Medicines System guarantee the authenticity of pharmaceutical products. It is used in all Member States of the European Union and has the role of identifying pharmacies that sell over-the-counter medicines online.
In addition, strict standards are in place for the composition of medicinal products, their active ingredients and the activity of manufacturers and wholesalers, who are regularly inspected. The containers have safety devices called ‘Data Matrix’, which must be incorporated into the assembly lines of the pharmaceutical industry. They aim to verify authenticity and prevent tampering.
Implementation
The following organizations are involved in the development and implementation of European regulations:
- International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations
- International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers
- Association for Accessible Medicines
- General Pharmaceutical Council
The European Medicines Verification System entered into force on 9 February 2019 in all Member States of the European Union, after three years of negotiations. But some states have not yet managed to implement all the established provisions.
The pharmaceutical industry has invested over 200 million euros to adapt its production lines to the new requirements imposed by the launch of the drug verification system. Therefore, the presence of counterfeit medicines on the market is low, being associated with online sales. Experts are optimistic that the new system will benefit consumers, the pharmaceutical industry and people.
Overall, the European Medicines System will be a key mechanism for effectively monitoring medicines on the market.
