Austrian Medicines Verification Organisation tasks Arvato Systems with the implementation and operation of the Medication Verification IT platform

• Arvato Systems implements National Verification System for Austria, implementing EU anti-counterfeiting directives
• AMVO (Austrian Medicines Verification Organisation) counts on Arvato Systems for implementation of the major project

Arvato Systems responsible for implementation and operation of Austrian national IT platform for the verification of medication. This decision represents an important milestone in the implementation of the EU Falsified Medicines Directive for AMVO, an organization which includes Pharmig (the Austrian pharmaceutical industry group), the Austrian Generics association, PHAGO (the association of Austrian medical wholesalers), as well as the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacies. The goal is to be part of the EU-wide fight against counterfeit medications entering legal distribution chains.

Directive 2011/62/EU is the start of the EU initiative against counterfeit medications. From February 9, 2019 prescription drugs may only be sold in Europe if each package has a unique serial number.

The serial number – a printed data matrix code – is one of the keystones of the security concept. As well as the data matrix code, packages must be tamper-proofed. The biggest challenge is in the verification of each individual identification code. As well as the serial number, the data matrix code contains the product code, information about the product batch and the expiry date. Each package of medication is therefore unique.

The national verification system enables end-to-end serialization for drug packaging, from pharmaceutical manufacture through to in-store pharmacy verification.

“All pharmaceutical companies in Austria; all pharmaceutical wholesalers, all Austrian pharmacies as well as all hospital pharmacies and doctors with an in-house pharmacy are required to connect to the national verification system – a major IT project”, comments AMVO Chairman Dr. Jan Oliver Huber on the practical implications of implementing the regulations at the EU level.

“We are delighted to see that Austria is ready to rely on the skill-sets and IT competencies of Arvato Systems”, says Peter Koop, Vice President for Healthcare at Arvato Systems. “For AMVO, implementation of these requirements means an investment of millions of euros. With our EU-wide experience we will be a solid and reliable IT partner for Austria.”

About AMVO
AMVO, the Austrian Medicines Verification Organisation, is responsible for managing the Austrian medication verification system. The organization was founded by Pharmig, the Austria Generics Association, PHAGO and the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacies. The AMVO members undertake to work together on investigating and processing any events where counterfeiting is suspected. Competent authorities are involved via the supervision and control advisory committee, and so can fulfil their monitoring tasks.