From October 10, every medicine made in Pakistan must carry a 2D barcode and a unique serial number, and imported medicines without that code cannot be sold anywhere in the country. The Ministry of Health says the 2D barcode medicines rule is meant to stop counterfeit drugs from reaching patients. A 2D barcode is a square code that holds more information than an ordinary striped barcode, while the serial number gives each pack its own identity.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal reviewed a trial of the system at a meeting he chaired. The heads of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the National Information Technology Board (NITB) attended, and the DRAP chief briefed the minister on how the codes and serial numbering are being put in place. Kamal said the ministry is determined to rid the country of fake medicines. He added that work on introducing the barcodes has been under way for the past year and a half.
What the rule covers
The requirement for 2D barcode medicines applies to local and multinational drug companies alike, so a firm based abroad that sells in Pakistan faces the same obligation as a domestic manufacturer. The rule also reaches veterinary and poultry medicines, because the ministry links medicines used on animals directly to human health. Counterfeit medicines can contain the wrong ingredient or too little of the active substance, which is why tracing each pack matters.
DRAP has finished training for representatives of pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders. The details available so far do not say whether local manufacturers will get any transition period, or how checks on imported stock will be carried out at the border.
Checking a medicine and what happens next
Under the 2D barcode medicines rule, citizens, pharmacies and medical stores can confirm through a mobile application whether a pack is genuine. The app will also display the price and expiry date of the medicine, so a buyer can see more than authenticity in a single step. A shopper at a chemist's counter could run the check before buying.
The available information does not give a launch date for the app, and it does not describe penalties for sellers who stock uncoded products. Readers should look for official notices from DRAP and the ministry for exact dates and enforcement rules.
Aasan alfaaz mein
10 October se Pakistan mein banai jane wali har dawai par 2D barcode aur serial number lagana zaroori hoga. Bahar se aayi dawaiyon par ye code nahi hoga to unhein Pakistan mein bechna mana hoga. Is ka maqsad jaali dawaiyon ko rokna hai. Aap mobile app se check kar sakte hain ke dawai asli hai ya nahi, aur us ki qeemat aur expiry date bhi dekh sakte hain.
