Pharmacies

When selling the medicine, the pharmacist examines whether the packaging has been tampered with. Using a two-dimensional code reader (2D, Data Matrix/DM) and specialized software, installed on his computer, he cancels the unique code before delivering the medicine to the final recipient who is the patient.

By applying this process, which takes only a few milliseconds, it is absolutely guaranteed that the medicine that ends up in the patient is authentic.

The above procedure makes the pharmacy the preeminent place for detecting counterfeit medicines, thereby giving the pharmacist the corresponding prestige. Pharmacists therefore play a major role in the functioning of the system.

Pharmacies in Greece (Private pharmacies, E.O.P.Y.Y. Pharmacies and Hospital pharmacies) should, before the date of application of the Regulation (February 9, 2025), adapt their computerized systems by connecting them to the repository of the Hellenic Verification System of Medicines (HMVS).

The participation of pharmacies in the system is free and no annual fee is required.