We're seeing more and more pharmacies taking decisive action to comply with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. With four short months left before the November 2023 enforcement deadline, pharmacies are realizing that they have three options:
Of course, 3) isn't really much of an option, since no pharmacy actually wants to face regulatory penalties, endanger their trading partner relationships, and lose the ability to accept incoming products.
So, that leaves the tricky question of when, not if, they ought to focus on DSCSA.
Understandably, pharmacies are now placing great urgency on the speed of DSCSA onboarding when they start conversations with us. By now, much of the sector has taken a realistic look at the rest of 2023, and realized they need time to work with their providers to ensure that all DSCSA requirements are covered, coordinate with trading partners to onboard EPCIS, distribute access to everyone who needs it, and coordinate SOPs.
Further, they're accounting for summer vacations (both for their staff and their trading partners), usually making July and August tougher times for coordination. Following that, many companies spend September tying up loose ends before the Q4 push, planning for crucial elements like renewals, budget, and winter holiday planning.
After September, trying to get a compliance project done in 2023, let alone by the end of November, is daunting at best, panic-inducing at worst. Note that the Thanksgiving holiday immediately precedes the DSCSA deadline, and then flows into Cyber Monday, which is the same day as the deadline itself.
Taken together, pharmacies see August-September as their last window of opportunity, where their teams will have some space to adapt to changes. Flexibility is an increasingly scarce commodity, yet it's the difference between a smooth, coordinated launch, and a rushed, stressful one.
Despite the pressure, once they get started, pharmacy personnel begin to realize that -- in addition to meeting legal requirements -- a comprehensive DSCSA compliance solution improves pharmacy supply chain operations.
OneScan Pharmacy Pro, our premier solution for dispensers, is seeing significant interest, with many businesses either replacing software that isn't complete enough, or moving to a compliance solution for the first time. From local independent pharmacies to chains, dispensers can now easily implement DSCSA without replacing any systems. Importantly, the solution goes beyond compliance, optimizing supply chain operations to bring down costs — so that, beyond avoiding expensive pitfalls, OneScan Pharmacy Pro makes DSCSA a chance for dispensers to save money.
The suite is quickly becoming the most adopted DSCSA compliance solution in the industry among national chains, and the preferred solution for many regional and national group purchasing associations. Moreover, LSPedia has ensured that cost isn’t a barrier to adoption, offering prices any dispenser can afford.
OneScan Pharmacy Pro provides simple and affordable tools to receive, track, manage, and verify EPCIS data, while automating expiry management, trading partner licenses, serial verification, data retention, FDA reporting, and more. Its elegant cloud design lets it work seamlessly with any dispensing or pharmacy management software; integrations are fast and effective, and teams can get started rapidly via an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
Additionally, OneScan Pharmacy Pro features access to LSPedia’s industry-leading Investigator technology, which automatically alerts suppliers to EPCIS errors and guides the resolution process, saving hours or days of problem-solving while ensuring that good products flow to the patient rather than being needlessly delayed or destroyed. These capabilities help pharmacies operate with efficiency, accuracy, and confidence, reducing the risk of slowdowns, disruptions, and audits.
Finally, it's crucial to note that DSCSA providers' services will only be in greater demand from here on out. To start seeing the benefits of DSCA compliance sooner (and reduce your stress level for the rest of the year), check out LSPedia's dispenser solutions, or contact us for more information.
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