GS1 and Google Open the Door to Reliable Medicine Information for Everyone Through Smartphones
In a major step toward enhancing global patient safety, GS1 has announced a new collaboration with Google that will make it possible to read the GS1 2D DataMatrix printed on millions of medicine packages directly through smartphone applications such as Google Lens.
According to GS1, this advancement means that any patient, pharmacist, or physician can simply point their phone’s camera at a medicine package and instantly access verified product information issued directly by the manufacturer or an authorized data provider. The initiative marks the beginning of a new era in simple, fast, and reliable access to medical data.
GS1 explained that patients often struggle to obtain accurate information when they need it most, as crucial details are frequently locked inside systems that are hard to access or navigate. With GS1 2D DataMatrix codes that can be scanned using a smartphone camera, the gap between patients and trustworthy information is effectively eliminated, making medical details clearer, more accessible, and easier to understand.
The organization expects the collaboration to significantly strengthen the safety of treatments worldwide. It will also allow healthcare professionals to verify medical information quickly, while giving manufacturers and regulators a direct, unified way to share essential product data consistently across global markets.
Ahmed El Qalla, General Manager of GS1 Egypt, highlighted that the GS1 2D DataMatrix symbol on medicine packs is not new. What is new, however, is the ability to decode it across billions of smartphones using readily available tools such as Google Lens.
El Qalla emphasized that this capability is not a replacement for national traceability systems or hospital databases. Rather, it acts as a global access layer that complements existing national programs, increasing transparency and improving ease of access to essential drug information.
He added that GS1 is currently working with a wide network of global healthcare companies to implement this advancement and is encouraging all pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to publish their product information digitally, ensuring that patients can reach verified details effortlessly.
El Qalla also noted that the technical components required for integration will be made openly available to developers and solution providers, enabling them to embed GS1 2D DataMatrix scanning features into their own applications and systems. This, he said, will further drive innovation and strengthen interoperability across the healthcare ecosystem.