Importance of bidimensional data matrix code against medicine counterfeiting

Abstract

In the recent years the world has faced significant problems related to public health and the counterfeiting of medicines, which has become a critical factor for the world population. It was verified that studies on this scope are few and the concern is due to the fact that It represents many losses, reaching the value of 8 millions reais with counterfeit medicines in 2013 and lack of traceability. This study aims to present a national and global screen view of tracing systems using the bidimensional code Data Matrix by showing its importance and use in hospitals. It is an applied research with qualitative and descriptive approach, relying on bibliometric study on databases such as ScienceDirect, Portal Capes and Ebsco on the period comprehended between 2004 and 2014 and using the keywords traceability, drugs, health care and Data Matrix. The results show that the theme is not well explored on the scientific community, achieving ten papers on the previously mentioned databases. It is considered an important subject concerning to financial health on a company.