GS1 and IHTSDO have signed a new collaborative agreement that supports interoperability in health information systems globally. The agreement between GS1 and IHTSDO follows an initial memorandum of understanding the organizations signed in 2010.

GS1’s global trade item numbers (GTIN) are global standards for automatic product identification (through barcodes), used for patient safety and traceability. Ensuring that the standard can work together with SNOMED will facilitate the link between clinical information in the patient record and the correct product administered to the patient at point of care, enabled by barcode scanning.

The agreement contains a workplan that will ensure the potential of the collaborative agreement is realized. For more information please see the partnerships area of the IHTSDO website.