IHF, GS1 to Improve Patient Safety through Global Supply Chain Standards
April 16, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
| |
| Tools for Supply Chain Mgmt. |
IHS sells enterprise-class tools to maximize the supply chain management of your complex parts inventories.
To learn more, and for a free quote, please complete the form below. |
|
The International Hospital Federation (IHF) and GS1 are teaming to promote the development and adoption of global supply chain standards in hospitals for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Patient safety can be improved by implementing automatic product identification through bar codes or radio frequency identification in the healthcare supply chain, said GS1. Medication errors can be avoided by automatically matching product data to patient data.
At the same time, this enables efficient tracking and tracing of pharmaceutical product and medical devices. It will also increase supply chain efficiency, driving much needed cost reductions.
"IHF is much concerned with and works on issues related to quality in health services," said Professor Per-Gunnar Svensson, IHF director general.
"Ongoing projects and activities focus on patient safety and the whole spectrum of quality improvement. Our partners are the World Health Organization (WHO), Joint Commission International (JCI) and others."
IHF is joining the GS1 Global Healthcare User Group (GS1 HUG). This group consists of participants from all sectors of the healthcare supply chain: manufacturers, wholesalers & distributors, hospitals and pharmacy retailers.
A number of hospitals participate in the HUG activities, but this collaboration between IHF and GS1 enables intensifying the voice of the hospital community in this global programme, said GS1. GS1 will also participate in IHF activities to promote patient safety through global supply chain standards. The extensive network of local member organizations of both IHF and GS1 allows further collaboration on local and regional levels.
Source: GS1.