The Ministry of Public health has launched the pilot phase for 2D data Matrix Barcode Implementation on pharmaceutical products in the auditorium of the Ministry in Bir Hassan, under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani and in the presence of Director General of the Ministry Dr. Walid Ammar, the President of the Lebanese Order of Parmacists Georges Sili, the President of the Syndicate of Pharmaceutical Industries Caroline Abi Karam, the president of the Lebanese Pharmaceutical Importers Association Armond Phares, the President of the Syndicate of Hospital Owners Sleiman Haroun, the President of the Order of Physicians Raymond Sayegh, The Director of the Medical Care Directorate Dr. Joseph El-Helou, WHO representative Dr. Alissar Radi, Director of  E-Health program at the Ministry Lina Abou Mrad, and a number of representatives of hospitals and pharmaceutical industries.

The Director General Dr. Walid ammar explained the strategic frame of the project that comes within the Lebanese pharmaceutical sector reform and improvement plan. This project is achieved by reconsidering the legislations, regulating the registration and pricing of drugs, developing standards and programs to ensure quality in order to provide the patients with a safe quality-assured drug at the right price.

Mrs. Lina Abou Mrad then announced the launch of the implementation of 2D Barcode in 2018, while explaining the requirements of the information system that was lately developed to track the drugs across the supply chain, from manufacturing phase to sale to patients. Mrs Abou Mrad outlined as well the timeline for the implementation phase.

Hasbani

Hasbani said it was a pleasure to launch a new step for a long path of technology implementation to improve the performance of the healthcare sector. “Today we are launching the pilot phase for 2D barcode implementation that aims at ensuring the patient’s access to the safe drug, tracking drugs across the traceability supply chain, controlling illegal drugs and speeding up drugs recall from the Lebanese market and reimbursement of patients affiliated to insurers”, he added.