QR Code for Drugs

QR Code for Drugs

Subject : Science & technology

Context : Government of India has recently introduced quick response (QR) codes to ensure authenticity and traceability of 300 common drug brands.

Concept :              

• A week ago, the Centre had mandated that the country’s 300 top brands sport QR/barcodes by August 2023, in an effort to weed out fake and counterfeit products.
• Pharma industry representatives agree that they are still evaluating the logistics involved in its roll-out, said representatives, speaking for drugmakers of all hues.

About the notification

• The Union Ministry of Health has made amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to implement this.
• In this regard, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had identified the list of 300 drugs.
• The plan will be implemented in phases from May 2023.
• In the first phase, top brands which hold market shares of at least 35% each for lifesaving drugs will be required to display the QR code.
• This is aimed at preventing the sale of spurious drugs.
• These high-selling brands have been shortlisted based on their moving annual turnover (MAT) value.
• As per the draft notification of the ministry the manufacturers of the formulation products will print or affix barcode or QR code on its primary packaging label and on the secondary package label that store data or information legible with software application to facilitate authentication.
• The stored data or information will include unique product identification code, proper and generic name of the drug, brand name, name and address of the manufacturer, batch number, date of manufacturing, date of expiry, and manufacturing license number.
• Earlier this year, the Centre had said active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or bulk drugs that are manufactured on imported in India should bear a QR code on its label at each level, packaging that stores data or information readable with software application to facilitate tracking.
• The new rule will be applicable from January 1, 2023.

 About Bar Code:

• Barcode is a machine-readable representation of information, which can be read by barcode scanners or computer programs to extract relevant information from an image.
• The encoded information may then be used by computers to perform tasks like reading data from cards into databases and performing mathematical calculations based on the encoded values stored on cards.
• Barcodes are used to store information like price, product type, product identification numbers, etc.

About QR Code

• A QR code is a two dimensional version of barcode invented in 1994 by the Japanese automotive company Denso Wave.
• A QR code (quick response code) is used to provide easy access to online information through the digital camera on a smartphone or tablet.
• A QR code works similarly to barcodes.
• Each QR code consists black squares and dots which represent different pieces of information.
• When scanned, the unique pattern on the barcode translates into human-readable data.

Difference between QR Code and Barcode

• The major difference between Barcode and QR code is that the Barcode can store data only in one dimension while the QR code can store data in two dimensions.
• Storage of data is less in Barcode, whereas in QR Code it is higher.
• Data is stored horizontally in Barcode, whereas in QR Code it is stored both horizontally and vertical.