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McKesson Supports FDA Compliance Policy on Radio Frequency
Identification
FDA's Proposed Adoption of RFID Technology Could Improve the Safety and
Security of the Nation's Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 15, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- McKesson Corporation (MCK)
today announced its strong support for the US Food and Drug Administration's
initiative employing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to
create an electronic pedigree for pharmaceutical products.
By using RFID technology to create an "electronic pedigree" -- a sort of
living history of when and where the product was manufactured, its
expiration date, when it was shipped, as well as its intended destination --
drugs can be tracked from factory to pharmacy, greatly reducing the chances
of counterfeit products making their way into the supply chain. In addition,
RFID tagging will allow for more rapid and accurate recalls, improve
distributors' operational efficiencies and assist manufacturers,
distributors, retailers and institutions in managing their inventories.
"As one of a handful of companies participating in industry-wide testing of
RFID in the pharmaceutical supply chain, we're convinced of its importance
in improving medication safety and applaud the FDA's decision to support
this technology," said Paul Julian, executive vice president and group
president, McKesson Corporation. "The ability to electronically trace the
entire route that a pharmaceutical product takes on its way to the pharmacy
will make the nation's pharmaceutical supply chain, already the best in
world, even better."
McKesson is a participant in an industry initiative called JumpStart, which
includes a group of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and retailers
and is being led by Accenture. JumpStart recently completed the first phase
of its feasibility study, during which McKesson installed RFID scanners in
select warehouses to capture data from numerous test shipments, and track
them to their ultimate destinations. The test successfully demonstrated the
value of RFID in counterfeit detection, recall management and returns
processing. In addition, McKesson is actively participating on a number of
committees within the Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Action Group of
EPCglobal the industry organization that oversees the establishment of
standards for the use Electronic Product Codes.
McKesson is the largest healthcare services firm in the world and the
leading distributor of pharmaceuticals in North America. McKesson purchases
products from more than 450 pharmaceutical manufacturers and supplies more
than 75,000 customer sites.
About McKesson
McKesson Corporation, ranked 16 on the Fortune 500, is a healthcare services
and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers
deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes
and improving the quality and safety of patient care. Over the course of its
170-year history, McKesson has grown to provide pharmaceutical and
medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare
information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors;
hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and
payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information,
visit us at www.mckesson.com.
SOURCE: McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation
James Larkin, 415-983-8736 (office)
415-412-4297 (cellular)
James.Larkin@McKesson.com
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