Drugmakers to have barcode or QR codes in top 300 drugs

July 5, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN Topics

Drugmakers to have barcode or QR codes in top 300 drugs

Subject : Schemes

In News: Government has introduced Quick Response (QR) Code or bar code on the packaging label of the top 300 drug formulations under the Drugs (Eighth Amendment) Rules, 2022

Key Points:

These QR codes will help verify the authenticity and traceability of the drugs.
Companies would be able to track their products and identify and recall drugs if the supply chain was compromised.
The system will also have a trail of ingredients going into the drug and the distribution chain involved in getting the drug to the consumer.
As per a study by GS1 and the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI):
- Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturers did not have product visibility till point of care.
- More than 50 per cent of them lose 1 per cent of their sales due to expiry and pilferage. track and trace system
The QR code system will address these issues

GS1 India is a global standards organisation set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, FIEO, IMC, BIS, Spices Board of India. GS1 has been set up to outline global standards that facilitate transfer of product information. It is an affiliate of GS1 Global.