Simplifying DSCSA Compliance: What You Need to Know

If you're in the pharmacy business, you may have been hearing about DSCSA compliance for a while. Even though it can seem complex, the right technology solution can integrate it easily with your daily operations. The significant amount of data that pharmacies will need to handle and store is one of the toughest problems to manage. In this blog post, we'll break down DSCSA compliance into simpler terms and guide you through it.

Why DSCSA Compliance Matters

Patient Safety

At its core, DSCSA compliance is about patient safety. It reduces the risk of patients receiving counterfeit medications, ultimately safeguarding their health.

Regulatory Compliance

Failure to comply with DSCSA regulations can result in severe penalties for pharmacies, distributors and manufacturers. Non-compliance will not be tolerated.

Supply Chain Integrity

A secure pharmaceutical supply chain benefits all stakeholders. It builds trust among consumers and ensures the authenticity and efficacy of the medications they receive.

Three Key Components of DSCSA Compliance

1. Serialization: Pharmaceutical manufacturers must affix a unique product identifier to each package of prescription medication. This identifier contains crucial information, including the National Drug Code (NDC), serial number, lot number, and expiration date.
2. Traceability: DSCSA mandates that all trading partners, including manufacturers, distributors, repackagers, and dispensers, maintain detailed transaction records. These records must be readily accessible for efficient tracing of product history in case of recalls or suspicious activity.
3. Verification: Dispensers, like pharmacies, are required to verify the authenticity of prescription drugs before dispensing them to patients. This helps ensure that only safe and legitimate medications reach consumers.

How to Simplify DSCSA Compliance

1. Stay Informed: Keep an eye out for updates and news from the FDA and other important organizations. They'll tell you what's new in DSCSA compliance.
2. Let technology do the work for you: Many pharmacies use different software to keep track of medicines. It's like using a GPS to find your way. This makes sure everything is in order.
3. Train your team: If you work in a pharmacy, make sure everyone knows what to do to keep things safe and compliant.
4. Ask for Help: Don't be afraid to ask experts for help. SureCost has a team of knowledgeable DSCSA experts who are ready to address any questions or concerns you may have for your pharmacy.

Use Technology to Safeguard Your Pharmacy Compliance

At the heart of SureCost's DSCSA compliance solution is its ability to consolidate data effectively. Many pharmacies face significant challenges when it comes to handling data from multiple systems, leading to errors and compliance issues.

With SureCost, this burden is reduced as its integrated platform consolidates data from various origins, including suppliers and Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs). This grants pharmacies a unified repository for DSCSA-related data. By centralizing and meticulously tracking drug information throughout the supply chain, SureCost facilitates prompt and accurate reporting, thereby minimizing the potential for penalties and damage to reputation.

Join Our Upcoming Webinar: DSCSA Is Delayed: Now What?

Are you prepared to address DSCSA head-on? Whether you're in the middle of researching or actively seeking the most suitable DSCSA partner, our webinar will offer exclusive insights and tips on how to be successful at it. Register here.

Between now and November 2024 is your opportunity to assess your pharmacy's current readiness when it comes to staying DSCSA compliant. Purchasing and inventory management processes play a key role in your pharmacy's ability to adhere to the DSCSA regulations, and we will give you the ultimate guide on how to maintain and achieve DSCSA compliance for your pharmacy.

What's in it for you:

• Learn how to make your receiving process DSCSA-friendly
• The strategy for inventory tracking that drives DSCSA compliance
• Why smarter purchasing methods matter when it comes to DSCSA