12-6 Distribution channel concerns for pharmaceutical drugs — especially the problem of counterfeit drugs —

can be a matter of life and death. There have been moves in some parts of the world to require the keeping of a record of the chain of custody (‘pedigree’)

from manufacturer through resellers to the point of dispensing, and some regulators are requiring an electronic pedigree using serialisation and track-and-trace systems. Write a report on this development and the current status of track-and-trace systems in the global pharmaceutical drug distribution channel, as well as other initiatives to fight counterfeit drugs in different parts of the world. (AACSB: Communication; Reflective thinking)