June 01, 2005
RFID to Crack Down on Fraudulent Prescriptions
Unisys Corp. and SupplyScape Corp. have begun an "electronic drug pedigree" program that will utilize RFID to track the distribution of Oxycontin--an addictive narcotic painkiller that has become a recent target drug for prescription addicts. The project is to begin in July with an eight-week implementation stage followed by 60 to 90 days of monitoring. The data will demonstrate the benefits of RFID tracking within the pharmaceutical industry. RFID technology is expected to decrease counterfeit medicines and make obtaining drugs all the more difficult for addicts by more accurately indicating which pharmaceutical was in possession of the drug and to whom and when the drug was sold. Currently, no legal regulations require pharmaceuticals to use RFID tracking. Brenda Kelly, vice president of marketing and manager of regulatory affairs at SupplyScape, is optimistic about the future of RFID in the pharmaceutical industry. According to ComputerWorld:
Five states have passed laws with various time frames requiring the implementation of electronic pedigrees on drugs, and a stay placed on a federal regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will expire in the coming months, forcing companies to also comply with those mandates, she said.
Read more: Companies Announce RFID Drug-tracking Project
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