QR Code on Medicine: Soon it will be easier to identify and know the exact price of medicines when buying them in medical stores or online in the country. The Drugs Regulatory Authority (DPA) is preparing to impose QR codes on 300 drugs. According to market research, these drugs have been selected based on their year-round business. Their list has also been sent to the Ministry of Health, so that necessary changes can be made in the rules and regulations to bring them under the QR Code. Recently, the government has made it mandatory to apply QR codes to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in the manufacture of medicines. This decision has been taken in this episode.
Which medicine will have QR code?
This list includes essential medicines such as painkillers, vitamin supplements, blood pressure, diabetes and birth control pills. According to media reports, this includes Dolo, Saridon, Fabiflu, Ecosprin, Limcee, Sumo, Calpol, Corex Syrup, Unwanted 72. and Thyronorm. All these medicines are widely sold and are used in common ailments like fever, headache, viral, vitamin deficiency, cough, thyroid etc.
What is the benefit?
- Introducing QR codes will bring transparency in the pricing and sale of medicines.
- It will also make it easier to identify genuine and counterfeit drugs.
- It will also curb the black marketing of medicines.
- The single QR code system is even easier for drug tracking and tracing.
- Inserting a QR code into the API will also reveal whether the formula has been tampered with in the formulation of the drug. Also where did the raw material come from and where is this product going?
If the measure is successful, it will be applied to all other drugs, so that small retailers or pharmacists will not be able to change the price or chemical formula for their own profit.