mPedigree signs up first Indian client

Themis Medicare has become the first Indian healthcare company to sign up with mPedigree Network for its text message-based authentication service for medicines.

Themis will make use of mPedigree's authentication platform for a range of its proprietary products, initially focusing on drugs destined for export such as malaria treatment Emal (alpha/beta arteether) and woundcare product Sepgard (feracrylum).

mPedigree has already started implementing its authentication system in Nigeria and Ghana, and sees great potential in the Indian market thanks to the national government's recent plans to introduce coding on exports and - potentially in future - the domestic supply chain. There have also been suggestions that text message-based authentication might be rolled out nationally (see India planning barcodes, SMS authentication for all medicines?).

"We expect growing cooperation with the Indian pharmaceutical industry over the next couple of months, and eventually with patient groups in India as efforts for a regional service gear up," said mPedigree's Bright Simons.