SCAN/STORIES

In this episode of SCAN/STORIES, discover how a leading hospital in China is transforming patient care with smarter traceability.

At The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, managing high-value medical devices used to be a manual, error-prone process, with delayed deliveries, paperwork overload, and risks to patient safety.

Today, it's a different story. By adopting Unique Device Identification (UDI) and GS1 global standards, the hospital has given every critical device a digital identity, enabling real-time tracking from warehouse, to storage, to bedside.

Using global identifiers like the GTIN, barcode scanning, and smart storage technology, they’ve built a seamless, data-driven system that reduces errors, accelerates operations, and enhances accountability.

This episode shows how trusted data and global standards are redefining healthcare logistics, and why traceability isn’t just a system upgrade, it’s a patient safety imperative. 

In this special after-show episode, we continue the conversation on protecting patients from counterfeit medicines with Blair Korman, Senior Director of Digital Identification & Traceability at Johnson & Johnson. 

Building on Episode 7, we explore the real-world challenges of implementing serialisation in countries without traceability laws, the role GS1 standards play in making it possible, and the impact this initiative is already having on the ground. 

In this episode, we learn more on a global health risk hiding in plain sight: counterfeit medicines. These fake or stolen drugs endanger millions of lives, especially in regions where traceability isn’t yet legally required.

Listen to this episode of SCAN/STORIES to learn how Johnson & Johnson is stepping up with a bold approach using serialisation and GS1 standards to track and verify every product, even beyond regulatory requirements. Discover how global standards like GTINs and GS1 DataMatrix barcodes are helping protect patients and secure the supply chain.

From lifesaving verification in underserved regions to scalable innovation that puts patients first, this story shows how trust, technology, and global collaboration can make all the difference. 

In this episode, we travel to Nigeria, the country with the highest malaria burden in the world, to explore a bold new approach to fighting this deadly disease.

Malaria kills thousands every year, but a game-changing pilot is proving how something as simple as a barcode can help turn the tide. Insecticide-treated bed nets are a vital prevention tool but ensuring they reach the right households has long been a challenge.

Listen to this episode of SCAN/STORIES to discover how the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program, in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme, used GS1 standards to trace every net from manufacturer to home. 

From real-time visibility to household-level verification, this story shows how GS1 standards are delivering hope—and protection—where it’s needed most. 

In this special after-show episode, we continue the conversation on reducing anaesthetic gas emissions with Dr. Steve Wileman, Head of Research at SageTech Medical. 

Building on Episode 5, we dive deeper into the inspiration behind the SID-Can, the challenges faced during development, and the impact this innovation is having on sustainability in healthcare. 

In this episode, we uncover a groundbreaking innovation that’s tackling a hidden environmental challenge in healthcare: waste anaesthetic gases. Every year, millions of surgical procedures release these harmful gases into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to carbon emissions. But what if we could stop this waste in its tracks?

Listen to this episode to learn how SageTech Medical is leading the way with a pioneering solution that captures and recycles anaesthetic gases, creating a circular economy for these essential medical agents. Discover how GS1 standards, like GTINs and GS1 DataMatrix barcodes, ensure traceability, compliance, and sustainability in this game-changing initiative.

From reducing emissions by up to 90% to reshaping the future of green healthcare, this episode showcases the power of innovation and global standards working together for a more sustainable world. 

[Disclaimer: this episode was produced using AI].

In this episode, we welcome Volker Ditscher, Director of Global Sales Track & Trace at WIPOTEC, for a conversation to learn more on the role of traceability and GS1 standards in healthcare. 

Volker shares how WIPOTEC integrates GS1 standards to enhance patient safety, streamline supply chains, and drive innovation in global healthcare. From strengthening collaborations with GS1 Healthcare to envisioning the future of traceability, Volker highlights the value of the GS1 Healthcare Global Partnerships and the critical role of GS1 standards in building a more resilient healthcare ecosystem.  

In this episode, we will dive into the transformative vision of ‘One Product, One Barcode’, a simple yet groundbreaking initiative reshaping healthcare. 

We’ll discover how a single barcode can revolutionise patient safety, streamline supply chains, and enhance global traceability in healthcare. We’ll learn about the challenges, industry readiness, and the steps needed to turn this vision into reality. From reducing errors to enabling faster recalls, this is the future of healthcare innovation.

In this ‘Behind the Scan’ specials (2/2), we will learn how GS1 standards connect manufacturers, distributors, and healthcare providers worldwide. 

We'll discover how GS1 standards streamline operations, reduce waste, and enhance sustainability, acting as the glue that holds global healthcare systems together for a safer and smarter future. 

In this ‘Behind the Scan’ specials (1/2), our host Mia, reveals the hidden secrets of the GS1 DataMatrix, a small barcode making a big difference in healthcare. 

From its role in ensuring patient safety to its journey through the global supply chain, learn how this tiny square packed with information protects patients, prevents counterfeit medicines, and enhances transparency. Discover the story behind the scan and why GS1 standards are transforming the way healthcare works worldwide.