Fake and substandard medicines sold in the market have always been a headache for people. Many times, patients and their families unknowingly purchase counterfeit medicines, which worsen their illness instead of curing it. To protect people from this danger, the central government has taken a very strict decision.
According to the government’s new rule, it is now mandatory to put a QR code or barcode on the packages of cancer drugs, antibiotics (antimicrobials), life-saving vaccines, and depression medicines. With this QR code, any patient, doctor, or medical store owner can instantly determine whether the medicine is genuine or fake by scanning it with their mobile phone.
The Union Health Ministry has made a major change to the Drugs Rules, 1945, and has included several essential medicines in a special category (Schedule H2). The government’s goal is to ensure a clean and transparent supply chain, from the manufacturing of a medicine to its delivery to the patient. Previously, this rule only applied to medicines from the country’s top 300 major brands, but the government has now expanded its scope, encompassing medicines for all serious and sensitive illnesses.
When you scan this special QR code printed on the medicine package using a mobile app or software, all important information related to the medicine will appear on the screen. For example:
The original brand name of the drug and its generic name
The name and complete address of the manufacturing company
The batch number of the drug
The date the drug was manufactured and when it will expire (the expiry date)
The company’s manufacturing license number
The unique product identification code of the drug
If the leaflet or vial is too small to accommodate a QR code, it will be necessary to print it on the outer packaging of the drug. Now, selling drugs without a QR code will be considered completely illegal.
The government has set a two-phase timeline for pharmaceutical companies to adopt and prepare for this new technology.
From July 1, 2026: All vaccines, cancer treatments, and medications for mental illnesses (such as depression) will not be sold without a QR code.
From July 1, 2028: Printing QR codes on all antibiotic (antimicrobial) medicines will also be mandatory.