Pharmacy Barcode Errors in the UK Prompt Urgent Call for Action by Regulators
Cambridge, UK – 11 October 2025 – A concerning trend has emerged in UK pharmacies, with a growing number of medicines carrying incorrect or duplicate barcodes. This issue has forced pharmacists to manually verify every pack before dispensing to patients, leading to increased workload and potential safety risks.
In a recent opinion piece published in Chemist+Druggist, Zeinab Ardeshir, Superintendent Pharmacist and Co-founder of digital healthcare service PillSorted, has called on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to take urgent action to address these errors.
According to Ardeshir, the presence of identical barcodes on packs from different manufacturers poses a significant challenge for pharmacists. She explains, “It means that a simple scan no longer guarantees accuracy. Every pharmacist has to double-check by hand, and it’s a hidden safety risk that should not exist in 2025.”
To address this issue, Ardeshir and her team have launched an open campaign at barcode.pillsorted.com, where they are documenting real examples of barcode mismatches and calling for public support. The campaign urges the MHRA to make accurate GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) a mandatory component of medicine approval in the UK.
This issue has far-reaching implications, as it affects every community pharmacy, hospital, and dispensing system that uses scan-to-label or digital checking workflows. While pharmacists are often able to catch these discrepancies before any harm occurs, experts warn that relying on human vigilance is not sustainable in a system handling millions of packs each week.
The campaign has already gained significant traction within the pharmacy sector, with many calling for NHS England, GS1 UK, and the MHRA to collaborate on enforcement standards.
PillSorted, a Cambridge-based digital healthcare service, is leading the charge in addressing this issue. Co-founder and pharmacist Mohammad Mohaghegh explains, “A single, enforceable fix would solve this nationwide: making the GTIN barcode part of the medicine’s marketing authorisation file. That would give manufacturers and regulators joint responsibility for accuracy, protecting patients and saving pharmacies thousands of hours in manual checks.”
PillSorted combines technology with clinical care to improve medication safety and adherence for patients across the UK. The company works seamlessly across NHS and private care, adapting to how patients access treatment. For media inquiries, please contact press@pillsorted.com.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.