All medicines manufactured in Pakistan from October 10 must carry a 2D barcode and serial number, while imported medicines without the code will not be sold anywhere in the country, as the Ministry of Health moves to eliminate counterfeit drugs.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal reviewed the trial of the system at a meeting he chaired.
The chief executive officers of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the National Information Technology Board (NITB) attended. The DRAP chief briefed the health minister on the implementation of 2D barcodes and serialization.
Kamal said the ministry has resolved to rid the country of counterfeit medicines. The ministry has worked on introducing the barcodes for the past year and a half. The requirement applies to both local and multinational pharmaceutical companies.
Citizens, pharmacies and medical stores will be able to check whether a medicine is genuine through a mobile application. The app will also display the price and expiry date of the medicine.
DRAP has completed training for pharmaceutical company representatives and other stakeholders. The system will also apply to veterinary and poultry medicines, as medicines used for animals are directly linked to human health.