Which product type in a hospital pharmacy must always have a barcode?

In a hospital pharmacy, prescription drugs must always have a barcode due to safety and accuracy requirements in medication administration. Barcoding helps to ensure that the right medication is given to the right patient in the correct dosage, thereby reducing the risk of medication errors. This system enhances the tracking of medications throughout the dispensing process and during administration, promoting patient safety and effective pharmaceutical care.

Prescription drugs are heavily regulated and must meet stringent standards for tracking and verification; thus, implementing barcodes is a critical step in the medication management workflow within a hospital setting. While intravenous solutions and other products may also use barcoding systems for identification and safety, it is specifically the prescription medications that are most universally required to have barcodes in order to comply with healthcare regulations and improve patient care outcomes.