Medicine shortages in the UK and Europe made news headlines in recent weeks. A report identified fragile supply chains as one of the causes, with 136 medicines listed in short supply.January 2024 data shows 19 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) experienced shortages of winter antibiotics, with 11 recording critical shortages. Similar problems are highlighted in a UK report, with materials, manufacturing, quality, packaging and supply chain challenges cited as causes.
A set of recommendations from a leading pharmacy body calls for greater data sharing between manufacturers, wholesalers and healthcare providers to enable better planning and demand forecasting, as well as sharing good practice in the use of technology to help organisations to improve their systems.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology has emerged as a key technology to address many of these issues, for its rapid, accurate data capture, and track and trace capabilities for manufacturing and supply chain operations. These solutions can enable asset visibility through real-time tracking and tracing of works in progress (WIP) and serve as a powerful deterrent against counterfeit drugs by enabling quick contactless identification and real-time data collection.
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