GS1 Healthcare -
Our Journey in Canada
From pioneering barcode use to advancing product identification and traceability, we have supported Canada’s journey toward safer, smarter, and more connected healthcare systems.
Safer, Smarter Care Starts with a Simple Scan
For 20 years, GS1 Healthcare has been at the forefront of global supply chain standards, helping healthcare organizations improve patient safety, operational efficiency, and system traceability. As healthcare evolves, standardized identification of products, patients, and locations ensures a connected, transparent, and safer system for all.
Implementing GS1 Standards in Healthcare Settings
Read the 10-step implementation guide for healthcare providers. (Document link opens in new tab.)
Standardized Professional Images and Accurate Data
Ensure your healthcare products are accurately represented with GS1 Canada's Image and Data Content Capture Services.
Smarter Recalls, Safer Patients
ECCnet Recall streamlines communication for hospitals, pharmacies and manufacturers and aligns with Health Canada requirements.
Healthcare Starts with Standards
Implement trusted global standards with the tools and support provided through a GS1 Canada subscription.
Transitioning to GS1 DataMatrix – Hospital and Retail Pharmacies
By December 2025, healthcare organizations must be 2D barcode ready.
The GS1 DataMatrix barcode is the 2D barcode being used in the healthcare industry enhancing patient safety, traceability, and supply chain efficiency. It enables hospitals and pharmacies to capture critical product details like GTIN, expiry date, batch/lot number, and serial number in a single scan.
Manufacturers and Distributors have already transitioned to the GS1 DataMatrix. The final stage of the roadmap is ensuring hospital and retail pharmacies are equipped to capture, store and process 2D barcodes.
Download the 2D Barcode Transition Guide (PDF) (Document link opens in new tab.)
Healthcare Voices & Insights
Francois Bouchard
Co-President, GS1 Canada
How healthcare partners solve non-competitive issues
Adam Zanatta
Co-President, GS1 Canada
How GS1 standards and technology are solving healthcare challenges
Safer, smarter care starts with a simple scan
SCAN/STORIES
A podcast by GS1 Healthcare
Discover how GS1 standards and barcodes are transforming healthcare through experts' insights, compelling stories and conversations.
Listen and subscribe today!
(External link opens in new tab.)
(External link opens in new tab.)
(External link opens in new tab.)
(External link opens in new tab.)
(External link opens in new tab.)
Episodes are in English, with French transcripts available:
French transcript - Ep1 (Document link opens in new tab.) French transcript - Ep2 (Document link opens in new tab.)
GS1 Healthcare Mission
To lead the healthcare sector to the successful development and implementation of global standards by bringing together experts in healthcare to enhance patient safety and supply chain efficiencies.
GS1 Purpose
GS1 believes in the power of standards to transform the way we work and live.
- We create a common foundation for business by uniquely identifying, accurately capturing and automatically sharing vital information about products, locations and assets.
- We enable visibility through the exchange of authentic data.
- We empower business to grow and to improve efficiency, safety, security and sustainability.
The Changing Healthcare Landscape
- Aging population
- New high-cost advanced medical treatments
- Intense performance scrutiny
- Increasing patient empowerment
GS1 can support several key business processes
In a hospital clinical and supply chain processes can be improved by automation and accurate data.
Hospital clinical processes
- Bedside scanning – patient, caregiver, product scanning and verification
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) – patient's records management
- Implant registry
- Instrument management and tracking (e.g., surgical instrument tracking, loan-set tracking, etc.)
- Product recalls
- Regulatory compliance
- Tracability
- Preparation of patient specific infusion solutions and dispensing of pharmaceuticals
- Supporting clinical pathways
Hospital support processes
- Product recalls
- Inventory management
- Asset management
- Patient-level costing
- Order-to-cash management
- Catalogue management
Many products to manage
Hospitals purchase many different kinds of products. They ALL need to be identified with GS1 barcodes so they can be purchased, stocked, dispensed, billed, tracked and recalled efficiently and safely.
- Order-to-cash
- Product recalls
- Catalogue management
- Inventory management
- Dispensing
- Compounding
- Regulatory compliance and professional practice
For Clinical Staff
What are GS1 barcodes and how do they work in healthcare?
GS1 barcodes, combined with accurate data, identify patients, medical products, equipment and caregivers.
Scanning GS1 barcodes automatically enters the right information into clinical and operational systems, such as Electronic Medical Records, Enterprise Resource Planning systems, or inventory platforms, improving patient safety and creating efficiencies that allow more time for patient care.
One of the ways in which patient safety is protected is through the use of permanent GTINs which protect patients by ensuring that key healthcare and pharmaceutical products can always be traced back to the patient that used them. If you are a manufacturer of regulated healthcare and or pharmaceutical products, read more on what the permanent GTIN policy means to you.
What can GS1 bring to my hospital and my patients?
Having complete and accurate information in your clinical and operational systems, such as EMRs, ERPs, or inventory platforms, makes it possible to ensure the rights of your patients and improve the quality of care you give them.
Capturing this information automatically and accurately enables your hospital to operate efficiently and cost-effectively, as well as to comply with regulations.
How will my department benefit from implementing GS1?
GS1 barcodes enable your team to improve the safety of their patients by reducing errors associated with manual data entry.
Clinical professionals who have integrated GS1 barcode scanning into their clinical processes testify to the positive impact on patient care.
What can GS1 do for me?
GS1 barcodes allow you to devote more time to patient care by removing essential but non-beneficial duties.
GS1 barcodes automate processes, providing an extra check on the safety of the care you deliver.
For Support Staff
What are GS1 barcodes and how do they work in healthcare?
GS1 barcodes enable product visibility, improve the cost efficiency of supply management and the speed of tracing pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
This visibility ensures necessary products are on hand, increasing safety and freeing staff to spend more time with patients.
How will my department benefit from implementing GS1?
GS1 barcodes uniquely identify products at all levels of packaging.
Scanning automatically ensures the accuracy of inventory information and usage requirements, and enables effective supply chain and recall management.
What can GS1 do for me?
GS1 barcodes provide a common language across all information systems throughout the supply chain, from manufacturers to your own hospital’s inventory management and clinical information systems.
This interoperability makes it possible to manage costs and resources more effectively—and helps ensure patient safety.