Anti-cancer drugs to sport QR codes to check fakes

Anti-cancer drugs to sport QR codes to check fakes

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health 

Context:

• Due to concerns over counterfeit anti-cancer drugs, the government is considering to make it mandatory to attach quick response (QR) codes to every vial and strip of medication sold in India.

Details: 

• The proposal came at a recent meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).
• This is aimed at ensuring a rigorous track-and-trace mechanism.
• An amendment to Schedule H2 of the Drugs Rules, 1945 was also proposed, to include all anti-cancer medicines.
• This would make it mandatory to print or affix bar codes or quick response codes in the labels of these medicines.

Issue of counterfeit drugs:

• Criminals, in collusion with hospital pharmacies are refilling empty vials of expensive anti-cancer medications with counterfeit drugs.
• These fake drugs are mixed with genuine stocks and sold to patients, jeopardizing their health.

Schedule H2 of the Drugs Rules, 1945:

• Schedule H2 includes specific categories of drugs that are considered higher risk, often related to critical conditions like cancer.
• Under Schedule H2, the chemist cannot dispense the medicine unless he keeps a copy of the prescription with themselves, keeping proof of dispensing the drug.
• This puts an onus on the retailer that the drug dispensed is genuine.

Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB):

• Advisory body to the Indian government on technical matters related to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
• It advises the central government on matters related to the approval, quality control, and safety of pharmaceuticals.
• Part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Health Ministry.