How barcodes have made patients safer for 20 years
GS1 Healthcare celebrates two decades of advancing healthcare digitalisation with barcode technology
Twenty years ago, GS1 brought its globally trusted barcode technology into the healthcare sector—marking a turning point in how medical products are tracked, identified, and administered. Originally developed for retail, the barcode has since become a quiet but vital force in modern healthcare, improving safety, transparency, and efficiency in systems around the world.
From hospitals and pharmacies to national regulatory frameworks, GS1 barcodes now underpin healthcare supply chains in over 70 countries. Their adoption has helped ensure the right medicine reaches the right patient at the right time—an achievement driven by decades of collaboration among manufacturers, regulators, healthcare providers, and technology partners.
“The journey of barcodes in healthcare began when regulators sought a reliable and smart way to identify and track medical products,” said Renaud de Barbuat, President and CEO of GS1. “Over the past two decades, GS1 barcodes have transformed healthcare systems, creating a ripple effect that ultimately benefits patients worldwide.”
That impact is measurable. In the UK, a report from the Scan4Safety initiative found that using GS1 barcodes led to a 76% reduction in medication errors. In hospitals, scanning barcodes enables real-time verification of medicines and surgical instruments—improving accuracy and reducing risks. Globally, the GS1 DataMatrix barcode is printed on over 16.5 billion medicine packs annually in the EU and US alone.
“For two decades, GS1 barcodes have been an indispensable guardian of patient safety,” said Dr Susan Moffatt-Bruce, President of Lahey Hospital Medical Centre (US). “By powering the efficient sharing of data, barcodes help healthcare providers make informed decisions that prevent errors and improve care.”
GS1 standards also support the fight against counterfeit medicines, a growing concern worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, one in ten medicines globally is substandard or falsified. With GS1 barcodes, products can be tracked from manufacturer to patient, helping detect counterfeits and enabling swift recall responses.
Looking ahead, GS1 is working with global technology partners to bring barcode-powered information directly to patients. The goal is to allow anyone, anywhere, to scan a medical product with a smartphone and instantly access essential data—from dosage instructions to sourcing information.
As GS1 Healthcare celebrates this 20-year milestone, the message is clear: safer, smarter care starts with a simple scan.
