control exist while the product
a way to better engage with the
we bring together companies
pharma company. As the pack
improved adherence and patient
solve an industry-wide challenge
is within the ownership of the
progresses on its journey towards the patient, these controls lessen with the last step of the last
mile (post healthcare provider
involvement and prior to patient usage) potentially having
no controls or monitoring in
place. Serialisation has already demonstrated the possibilities
of a co-ordinated approach to
anti-counterfeiting and product tracking, and the opportunity
exists to take a similar approach to important areas such as
maintaining appropriate product
patient potentially supporting outcomes. A simple use case
here would be to leverage the
DataMatrix codes on each pack
to give the patient a digital link to an electronic patient information leaflet (PIL). This e-PIL can be
regularly updated at the software
have visual impairments or speak
a different language to the market in which the medicines were purchased.
leveraging the connectivity and cloud infrastructure already
deployed. Building in sensing
has been handled and stored. As
opportunity for pharma to
There is currently significant embrace digital supply chain technologies to reduce their
costs, improve their sustainability (through reducing losses and
improving patient adherence), and enhance patient adherence.
Patient outcomes (and
On the whole, the technology
Driven, in part, by the increasing
up approach and large-scale
increasingly digitally aware
and knowledgeable. There is an
opportunity to use packaging as
18.
scaled by CPI, can quickly be
of services for the patient
Embracing innovation
general population is becoming
which can be developed and
It also enables personalisation
there are concerns or lack of
home over lockdown(s), the
exist, electronics, such as that
throughout the supply chain.
a result, pharma can apply a
use of digital solutions in the
impact. Where hardware gaps
RFID, enables it to be tracked
pharma through to patient. As
engagement)
longer term economic and society
site) smart tags such as NFC or
pack, during its journey from
availability at a critical juncture.
definition, this is truly a win-win for
through wireless (non-line of
handling and storage of the
the patient through non-
benefit of the industry.
unique ID through printed codes,
understanding of the actual
costs and potentially impacting
sharing expertise for the mutual
deployed. Giving each pack a
and control lead to a lack of
destroyed resulting in unnecessary
together, pooling resources and
all involved, as well as providing
The lack of unit level monitoring
acceptable products can be
own. Here, all partners can work
to them, eg to support them if they
waste reduction)
a direct consequence, perfectly
or stakeholder to solve on their
With the correct challenge
to the patient specifically tailored
Supply chain efficiency (and
information about how a product
that is difficult for one company
end and also provide instructions
storage environmental conditions.
worst-case scenario to where
in the pre-competitive space to
exists; what is missing is a joinedimplementation alongside the evolving digital healthcare
infrastructure. One way we could do this is to redeploy the novel
collaboration models such as the CPI “Grand Challenges” where
packagingbirmingham.com | packaging-london.com
and data logging, such as for
temperature, humidity or shock,
can bring additional value through high granularity supply chain
environmental monitoring. This can give demonstratable assurance
of the maintenance of the correct supply chain conditions and ultimately drug condition.
Now is the time for companies to start developing and deploying
these digital product solutions to make the pharma industry not
only more sustainable but reduce costs and provide better patient support. As an industry, we need
to innovate as well as learn from other industries that are already adopting digital technologies.
