Community Pharmacies: Getting Started with Serialization, Where to Begin?

Serialization consists of placing a unique identification code on each medicine box. It concerns all medicines subject to mandatory medical prescription and some with optional prescription.

The unique number assigned by the manufacturer allows verifying the authenticity of medicines and fighting counterfeiting. Therefore, serialization ensures that the dispensed medicine corresponds to the one that was prescribed.

To get started with serialization, pharmacists must scan the Datamatrix code present on the packaging. They thus deactivate this specific number when they dispense medicines. This practice ensures that they are not falsified.

This control requires connecting to France MVS, the French medicines verification system. The system records data and alerts the pharmacist in case of an incorrect identifier.

To connect to France MVS, there are two options:

• connection with the CNOP connector;
• manual connection.

Connecting with the CNOP Connector #

The connector of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists (CNOP) allows pharmacists:

• to be identified with their health professional card (CPS);
• to “pseudonymize” data transmitted during deactivation of medicine boxes. Thus, information on sales made by the pharmacy is anonymized.

The CNOP connector guarantees a simple, automatic and secure connection. The pharmacist must follow two steps:

• First, they check if their pharmacy management software (LGO) is compatible with the CNOP connector. If necessary, they can contact their LGO publisher for an update.
• In a second step, the pharmacist subscribes to a CNOP connector subscription contract (€44 ex VAT per year). For this, they use the credentials provided by France MVO. A few days are then sufficient for the connection to be established and for the pharmacist to be able to deactivate medicine boxes.

Manual Connection #

The pharmacist can access France MVO by connecting manually and free of charge. To do this, they must register as an end user on France MVO’s registration page and provide the requested supporting documents. They must verify that their software is compatible with a manual connection.
After registration, they receive their connection credentials by email to download the certificate. They must then contact their software publisher to finalize installation on their LGO. Once the certificate is installed, the pharmacist can connect using their credentials and the certificate. However, this procedure can take about two weeks.

The PharmaliZr solution allows a manual connection to France MVO and automatically manages the pharmacist’s password renewal.

LGO and API Interface to Get Started with Serialization #

The LGO is the pharmacy management software intended for pharmacies to facilitate stock management, sales, prescriptions and drug interactions. If the LGO does not have the drug serialization functionality, it can be added through an API interface. The pharmacist must contact their LGO publisher for its implementation.

PharmaliZr provides an API for LGO or GEF (Economic and Financial Management) software publishers. This RESTfull API easily integrates serialization into their applications.

The PharmaliZr API allows:

• optimizing stock management;
• meeting regulatory requirements;
• improving operational efficiency.

For more information on the API interface, do not hesitate to contact us.

Getting Started with Serialization #

The pharmacist must verify Datamatrix encoding with their scanner or Datamatrix scanner before getting started with serialization. To avoid false alerts, France MVO offers on its website a test set that allows checking the equipment.
After establishing the connection and performing necessary checks, the pharmacist can deactivate medicine boxes. This procedure is relatively simple. However, it is important to have adequate equipment to scan boxes and integrate this gesture into the daily practice of pharmacies.

Read also: “Governance of Serialization at European and National Level”

Discover the PharmaliZr Solution #

PharmaliZr is an application that ensures compliance with current regulatory standards. Our software is designed to be easy and quick to learn, allowing you to adapt it to your way of working. You will thus effectively strengthen the security of the medicine supply chain.
Ready to get started with serialization? PharmaliZr accompanies you with a simple and effective solution. Subscribe on our website.