An electronic system to tackle sale of counterfeit medicines is set to be rolled out next year.
The move to barcode medicines entering the country will streamline and secure Bahrain’s pharmaceutical supply chain, said National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) chief executive Dr Maryam Al Jalahma.
NHRA yesterday held a meeting with local pharmacies and agents, who according to Dr Al Jalahma, stressed the important role of the sector in implementing the plan.
“We had a meeting with local pharmacies to explain the implementation of this project,” she told the GDN.
“Pharmacies and agents play an integral role as they will be ordering drugs from manufacturers, who will be producing unique barcodes for medicines to Bahrain.
“This electronic system ensures that medicines imported into the kingdom are safe, and are issued by the real entity that manufactures it.
“Medicines will be scanned at the customs and this will help us know the exact quantity entering Bahrain. Pharmacists and agents who collect these will also scan and store it in their database,” she said.
“The system will have all details – the manufacturer, date of production and expiry and we also can keep track of the medicine’s storage location, where and to which patient it was given.
“This will stop counterfeits from entering Bahrain and we will have complete control over procurement and dispensing of medication, as well as their recall.”
According to Dr Al Jalahma, the technology would make Bahrain “a world leader” in cracking down on counterfeits.
The GDN reported that the system was all set to be launched last November.
However, Dr Al Jalahma said the procedures were ongoing and is getting ready to be implemented by October next year.
She also added that the implementation, to be handled by Bahraini company MVC, comes without any extra cost for stakeholders.
“We have designed it in accordance with the European Medicines Verification System, in which drug manufacturers collectively finance the system,” she said.
“It is based on sales and comes without any additional cost to hospitals, pharmacies or importing agents.
“The scanner will be provided free of charge, and the company will also train all pharmacies and hospitals to implement it. The project is expected to be completed in October next year.”
The GDN earlier reported that the move to barcode medicines came in line with directives of the Supreme Council for Health to follow the supply chain according to the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) for all medicines in Bahrain – whether locally produced, imported, or repackaged locally.
Meanwhile, a representative of a local pharmacy told the GDN that they have been asked to ensure only medicines with barcodes are imported.
“The existing stock is exempted while new medicines that are to be brought in have to be barcoded,” he said.
“Yes, it will help in streamlining, however I personally don’t think Bahrain faces a big risk from counterfeit medicines.”
The GDN has reported in the past about the challenges NHRA faced from unlicensed medical products including counterfeit drugs and fake devices.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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