Use EAN coding, PaSA says
Bar codes compliant with the European Article Number Uniform Code Council (EAN.UCC) system should be included on all products supplied to the NHS, according to the NHS
Purchasing and Supply Agency (PaSA).
The recommendation has been made following an evaluation by PASA of eight
coding and data carrier standards measured against criteria set by The
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. The criteria include that
the system is globally used, has technical support available in the UK
and is associated with fixed (rather than variable costs) to adopt and
run. The only exclusion to the recommendation is that products already
coded using the Health Industry Bar Code (HIBC) format can be used for
the forseeable future. Otherwise, suppliers are asked to change to the
EAN.UCC system as soon as possible.
PaSA also suggest that products transferred or resold in the NHS should
be identified by their original (EAN.UCC) code and not be re-coded. The
move to introduce a standardised bar code is designed to streamline purchasing
and improve patient safety — products will be traceable all the
way through the supply chain.
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Hospital Pharmacist