Pharmacy Distributor Installs RFID Technology

H.D. Smith Wholesale Drug Company earned number-1 ranking as the first pharmaceutical distributor to receive controlled prescription products from Purdue Pharma L.P. that contain radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagged labels. The company was the first national wholesaler to use an RFID system to track controlled substance pharmaceuticals in their distribution centers.

Experts anticipate that RFID technology will soon eliminate bar codes and revolutionize the way pharmaceuticals are tracked throughout the supply chain. RFID systems allow small tracking tags that are electronically programmed with unique information to be placed on shipping pallets, cartons, and individual labels. The technology can help eliminate drug counterfeiting and theft while also reducing costs related to inventory and distribution logistics.