Text messaging to authenticate products through matching hidden codes

Fake, counterfeit, or adulterated products have become a dangerous reality to consumers in developing countries. High value-added products are of particular concern, with pharmaceuticals topping the list, followed by packaged food. The prevalence of mobile phones, even in the poorest communities, and the availability of text-messaging, suggest that they may be used to solve this problem. This paper shows how an innovative system allows any member of the populace in the developing world to authenticate a drug before use by a simple text message over mobile phone. This system has been used to authenticate pharmaceuticals in a prototype demonstration project in Ghana. The prevalence of fake drugs and the willingness of customers to use this system were verified in a study involving a consumer base of eight pharmacies in Accra, Ghana, with almost 1000 responses over a three-month period. The opportunities and challenges to implementing such a system on an international basis will be described. Finally, the proposed technology will be compared with other options, showing why mobile phones may offer the most viable option for solving this vexing problem.