Introduction of Bar Codes Will Save NHS Millions of Pounds

A bar code system designed to tackle variance in how much United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS; London, UK) hospitals pay for products, will lead to significant savings in a market that currently costs up to GBP 6 billion annually.

For the first time, all NHS hospitals will use standard GS1 bar codes on products, which will make it easier to track and compare purchases. Additionally, the use of a standard barcode system is expected to improve patient safety, as using the same standard system-wide will reduce medication errors, reduce the risk of wrong-site surgery, and allow the effective tracking and tracing of surgical instruments, equipment, and other devices, improving record keeping and reducing error, malfunction, and contamination.

As a result, as is already the case in the retail sector, the right bar code will become essential for suppliers who wish to operate in the UK health market. The UK Department of Health will run a central procurement of GS1 bar coding systems for the NHS trusts so that all trusts can take part in the same procurement, helping them to choose the right system and saving them the costs of running their own procurement exercise. The expectation is that all products should be identifiable by or carry GS1 bar codes by the end of 2012.

"The NHS cannot afford to continue paying different prices for the same products. By simply using bar codes, NHS procurement will become more efficient as organizations can see how much they are paying for products compared to others," said UK Health Minister Simon Burns. "It's a simple idea that could save the NHS millions. Most importantly, this is a vital opportunity to save money for reinvestment in front-line care at a time when the NHS needs to make efficiency savings."

GS1 (Brussels, Belgium) is an international association with member organizations in over 100 countries dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across sectors. It is the most widely used standards system in the world, allowing companies all around the world to globally and uniquely identify physical trade items, assets, logistic units, shipments, and physical locations using barcodes.

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United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service
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