TOP 300 DRUG BRANDS SHORTLISTED TO IMPLEMENT 
QR CODES ON PACKAGING

(An Official publication of PharmaSecure)

In a major step to ensure the authenticity and traceability of drugs across India, The Union Government of India has issued a draft to amend the Drug rules of 1945 to implement the display of Quick Response (QR) Codes on medicines.The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) has identified 300 drug brands for the implementation of the Quick Response (QR) Code display. These brands were shortlisted on the basis of their moving annual turnover value.

As per reports, it has been said that these 300 brands of drug hold around 35% of market share for lifesaving drugs. Experts say that the use of QR codes would definitely put a curb on the circulation of spurious and substandard medicines. With effect to this the Union Government of India has also issued a draft on June 16th, 2022.

As per the order issued by The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in March 2022, the Department of Pharmaceuticals started the process of shortlisting different drug brands that consists of the widely used pain relievers, Vitamin Supplements, Anti-Platelet, Contraceptive Tablets and Blood Sugar Lowering Medicines. The prime purpose behind shortlisting of different drug brands were to get some help in incorporation of the Quick Response (QR) Code display policy in the draft notification.

The Quick Response (QR) Code would store the below mentioned details:

  • Generic Name of the Drug
  • Product Identification Code
  • Brand Name of the Product
  • Name and Address of the Manufacturer
  • Batch Number
  • License Number of Manufacturer
  • Date of Manufacture
  • Date of Expiry

Earlier this year, The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare working under The Union Government of India notified the guidelines. It was stated that “every API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) or Bulk drug imported or manufactured shall bear the QR (Quick Response) Code on every level of Packaging, so that the installed software application is able to trace and track the displayed code”.

Experts from the field of Authentication have applauded the step taken by The Union Government, in a bid to ensure the authenticity of lifesaving drugs.

“The Union government’s mandate to implement QR code on packages of top 300 drug brands, could curb the circulation of spurious and substandard pharmaceutical products”

Nakul Pasricha, President & CEO, PharmaSecure

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