Inside HSCA: 30 Global Healthcare Leaders Endorse GS1 Healthcare Standards

More than thirty global healthcare leaders representing hospitals, manufacturers and distributors from around the world have endorsed the GS1 System of Standards for Healthcare, GS1 recently announced. The healthcare stakeholders expressed their strong support in a signed position paper endorsing the adoption of GS1 as the global standard best suited for their industry:

“As GS1 Standards for Healthcare were developed and became available over the last few years, Healthcare communities across the globe have embraced them and advanced their implementation…GS1 Standards enable streamlined supply chain processes and improve visibility – from manufacturers to patients,” the healthcare leaders stated in their position paper.

Companies signing the position paper included 3M, Abbott, Apotex, Axway, Baxter, Bayer, BD, B.Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, Cardinal Health, CH2, Covidien, Fedefarma, Fresenius Kabi, Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Mölnlycke, Novation, Pfizer, Premier, RX360 and Sanofi Pasteur.

Hospitals and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) endorsing GS1 Healthcare Standards in the position paper include organizations in the United States (Novation and Premier); in Ireland (St. James Hospital); the Department of Health UK for all NHS hospitals; in Spain (Logaritme, Province of Catalonia); in France (Hospital Centre Robert Ballanger, Hospital Centre of Brive, Hospital Centre Rene Dubois, Hospital Sud Francilien, University Hospital of Strasbourg, University Hospital of Dijon, Hospital Centre of Coulommiers); and in Japan (NTT Medical Center Tokyo).

The overwhelming endorsement follows a recently released report from McKinsey & Company detailing the significant patient safety benefits and cost savings achievable by implementing and using a single global standard in healthcare..

HSCA has been a firm supporter of GS1 global standards and believes they will enhance patient safety, help achieve supply chain efficiencies and yield significant savings to the healthcare system.