The mission of GS1 Healthcare is to lead the Healthcare sector to the successful development and implementation of global standards, by bringing together experts in Healthcare to enhance patient safety and supply chain efficiencies.

GS1 Ireland Healthcare Committee

GS1 Ireland has been working with the healthcare sector for a number of years and our Healthcare Committee (chaired by Michael Kelly) was set up to co-ordinate activities in the sector. The Committee is made up of representatives from across the Irish Healthcare sector.

GS1 Ireland's primary aim in Irish Healthcare is to "drive the adoption of supply chain solutions in the Healthcare sector based on GS1 standards in order to reduce both risk & costs".

GS1 Global Healthcare User Group (Global HUG)

GS1 is a global, neutral, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility in supply and demand chains. GS1 is driven by more than a million companies, who execute more than six billion transactions a day with the GS1 System of Standards. GS1 is truly global, with local Member Organisations in 111 countries, with the Global Office in Brussels, Belgium.

The GS1 Healthcare user group was created to drive the development and adoption of GS1 standards and solutions to meet the needs of the global Healthcare industry. There are currently over 300 participants in GS1 Healthcare, representing over 150 companies, including thirty of the forty largest global manufacturers along with wholesales & distributors, hospitals, government agencies (eg: NHS, NEHTA, Public Health Agency of Canada), retail pharmacy, logistics providers and other key stakeholders.  GS1 Healthcare also maintains close contacts with regulatory agencies and trade organisations worldwide (eg: US and European associations of medical device manufacturers).  The work of GS1 Healthcare allows the sector to drive towards the effective utilisation and development of global standards with the primary focus on automatic identification to improve patient safety and supply chain efficiencies.

The goal of the Global Healthcare User Group is to be the recognised, open and neutral source for regulatory agencies, trade organisations and other similar stakeholders who are seeking input and direction for global standards in healthcare for patient safety, supply chain security & efficiency, traceability and accurate data synchronisation.

Local Healthcare User Group (Local HUG)

Working closely with the global Healthcare User Group and GS1 Member Organisations, Local Healthcare User Groups have also been established in a number of countries around the world.

Read more about the Irish Healthcare User Group