Australia wants barcode choice
This article was originally published in Clinica
Patient safety in Australia would be at risk if proposed changes to the barcode format for medical devices and diagnostics come into force. That is the view of the Medical Industry Association of Australian (MIAA), representing the country's medical device manufacturers.
Some major purchasers, such as New South Wales Health, are pushing for the sole use of EAN (European Article Numbering) barcoding by July 1 this year. But the MIAA sees shortcomings in this approach. There is some doubt over the need for a relabelling alternative, it says, noting that US barcoding (HIBC, the Health Industry Barcode) is already used widely in Australia, as more than 50% of Australian medical device imports come from the US.
Enforcement of a new barcoding system to replace an already satisfactory version raises serious concern that errors in rekeying and/or relabelling may arise, jeopardising patient safety, says the MIAA. It stresses that it supports barcoding for all products, but proposes that both the HIBC and EAN systems be permitted in tandem.
An MIAA survey in conjunction with its barcoding special interest group founded in June 2000 has shown that companies would opt for a two-year transition period to allow all suppliers to adopt a barcoding system. This period will allow suppliers to change their supply chain operations, phase out products with old packaging and acquire the necessary barcoding equipment.
The Australian medical device market is valued at around Aus$1.88 billion ($US986 million), of which MIAA members account for $Aus1.6 billion.