As the acronyms indicate, RFID is Radio Frequency Identification and EPC is Electronic Product Code.
RFID: Technology that uses radio waves to encode and store data in transponders.
EPC: Uses a string of numbers to identify manufacturer, product, and a unique serial number for each item unit. This string of numbers is engraved on the RFID tag chip.
Now, what do they do and what are they for?
The use of RFID EPC in the pharmaceutical industry brings benefits to users unimagined until today. It reduces product costs by providing us with a detailed control of logistics, it allows us to verify shortages, if there are expired products or in bad condition.
It also enables us to create an important information database, so that at the government level control of what is being sold, where and how much is maintained.
And much more.
This new technology can be used in any laboratory, but for its use to be effective and practical, it is very important that it be carried out at the level of the distribution channels, who will have the function of implementing the mandate to the laboratories.
If the benefits of RFID EPC technology can be understood, and it is applied to all distribution ports, the amortization of the system would be faster. The most important thing is the information that could be obtained from the market and the movement of medicines to be able to manage a rotation of the stock and production, according to the different seasons.
We could also carry out direct marketing actions based on the information provided by pharmacies, inquiries from medical visitors and promoters.
Regarding packaging, we should only think about leaving a free side for the placement of the label at the time of its design. In this way, when the product passes through the production line, the label –which is always placed in the same place- is recorded with its differential data, such as EPC, batch, expiration, etc.
The cost of the labels today is around 0.30 ctvs. of dollar, however, different alternatives are being analyzed so that they fall to 0.02 ctvs of dollar If we take into account the added value in information for consumers and the incalculable advantages for the producer, the cost of the label is diluted in favor of the benefits to be gained from the new RFID EPC technology.
Synthesizing, we can add that today we have a way to carry out highly detailed traceability of drugs, which is carried out at the product level (unit box). We can only define how far we want to trace that merchandise - that is, until it leaves the distribution center, until it enters the pharmacy or until the purchase by the patient. In billing management for each of these alternatives, there is a solution that can be determined according to each need.
For the scheme used in Argentina, we can define the following stages as traceability steps:
1. When the product leaves the laboratory.
2. When you enter the distribution center.
3. At the time of picking the merchandise, transmitting to a computer the order for the preparation of supporting documentation, bill of lading, remittances, invoices, etc.
4. If a drugstore intervenes, entry and exit would be another traceability issue.
Entry and exit of the merchandise to the pharmacy.
