Govt picks top 300 drug brands including Dolo, Saridon, FabiFlu to issue unique QR code

Dolo, Saridon Fabiflu, Ecosprin, Limcee, Sumo, Calpol, Corex syrup, Unwanted 72, and Thyronorm are among the brands on the list, reports the Economic Times. The list includes widely used analgesics, pain relievers, anti-platelet, vitamin supplements, blood-sugar-lowering drugs, and contraceptive tablets.

The list was constructed based on changing annual turnover value, according to data from market research firm Pharmatrac.

As per the report published in ET, a senior government official stated "The ministry had in March asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to shortlist the top 300 drugs so that we can incorporate the same in the draft notification and make necessary amendments in the drugs rules for its implementation,"

Earlier, the Medical Dialogues Team had reported that the Government had set up a committee to fine-tune the modalities and attribute a unique quick response (QR) code to medicine packs in a bid to ensure authenticity and enable tracking.

QR Codes help in tracking and tracing the origin of drugs and minimize the chances of spurious, sub-standard, or counterfeit drugs reaching patients.

In 2019, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had issued a draft notification mandating the use of the QR code for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), wherein, every Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufactured or imported in the country would bear Quick Response code on its label at every level of packaging.

As per the notification, every active pharmaceutical ingredient (bulk drug) manufactured or imported in India would bear a Quick Response code on its label at each level of packaging that stores data or information readable by a software application to facilitate tracking and tracing.

However, conflicting sets of instructions provided by various official departments regarding the tracing and tracking of pharmaceuticals have caused confusion among pharma corporations and lobby groups, demanding the creation of a single QR code system. The need for a single QR code system has been repeatedly emphasised by lobbying groups and pharmaceutical companies.