Ultimately, the primary goal of any pharmaceutical supply chain is to ensure patient safety. RFID-enabled pharmaceutical labels contribute to this in several key ways.

• Combating Counterfeit Drugs: Counterfeit medications pose a significant threat to public health. By assigning a unique digital identity to each product, RFID makes it far more difficult for fraudulent products to enter the legitimate supply chain. Each item can be authenticated at any point, providing a powerful deterrent against counterfeiting.

• Accurate Dispensing: RFID technology helps ensure that the correct medication and dosage are administered to patients. In a hospital setting, automated systems can verify that the medicine being dispensed matches the patient's health record, reducing the risk of medication errors.

• Efficient Recalls: In the event of a product recall, RFID allows for rapid and precise identification of affected batches. Instead of manually searching for specific lot numbers, healthcare providers can quickly scan their inventory to locate and isolate the recalled products, preventing them from reaching patients. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) is pioneering the use of digital IDs for pre-fillable syringes, in collaboration with Avery Dennison, recognising the growing importance of reliable drug batch segregation as the industry moves towards platform-based products.