Fake and poor quality medicines sold in the market have always been a headache for people. Many times patients and their family members unknowingly buy fake medicines, which prolongs the disease rather than curing it. To save people from this danger, the Central Government has taken a very strict decision.
According to the new rule of the government, now it has been made mandatory to put QR code or barcode on the packets of cancer medicines, antibiotics (anti-microbial), life-saving vaccines and depression (mental illness) medicines. With the help of this QR code, any patient, doctor or medical store owner will be able to immediately find out whether the medicine is genuine or fake by scanning it from his mobile.
Why did the government take this decision?
The Union Health Ministry has made major changes in the rules of the Drug Rules, 1945, and has included many essential medicines in a special category (Schedule H2). The aim of the government is to make the entire supply chain clean and transparent, from the time the medicine is manufactured till it reaches the patient’s hand. Earlier this rule was applicable only on medicines of top 300 big brands of the country, but now the government has expanded its scope. After this, medicines for all serious and sensitive diseases have been brought under its purview.
What will be known by scanning QR code?
When you scan this special QR code printed on the medicine packet with any mobile app or software, all the important information related to the medicine will appear on the screen.
- The original brand name of the medicine and its generic name
- Name and complete address of the company manufacturing the medicine
- Batch Number of the medicine
- When was the medicine made (manufacturing date) and when will it spoil (expiry date)
- Company Manufacturing License Number
- Unique product identification code
This needs to be kept in mind
If the medicine leaf or bottle is very small and there is no space to print the QR code on it, then it will be necessary to print it on the outer box of the medicine. Now selling medicines in the market without QR code will be considered completely illegal.
When will this rule apply to which medicine?
The government has fixed timing in two phases for the pharmaceutical companies to prepare and adopt this new technology.
- From 1st July 2026: All types of vaccines, medicines used in the treatment of cancer and all medicines related to mental illnesses (like depression) will not be sold without QR code.
- From 1st July 2028: It will become mandatory to print QR codes on all types of antibiotics (anti-microbial) medicines also.
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