ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) has decided to introduce the global unique identification code system in Pakistan to eradicate the sale of spurious drugs and overpricing.

Under the new system, buyers having smart phones will be able to verify a medicine and its price.

Moreover, the new system will also help the sellers to track the movement of a medicine and recall it in case of any complaint.

An official of Drap, who was not authorised to speak to the press on record, told Dawn that the identification code system was applied through a bar code.

Just like in departmental stores, the price of a product is checked through a single dimensional bar code machine. The pharmaceutical companies, however, will have to use two dimensional bar codes on the packets of medicines, he said.

The purchaser would have to download the free software to scan the bar code on their mobile phones within seconds, he said. They will get information about the name, manufacturer, batch number, expiry date and price of the product. As the software will not identify the bar code of any spurious drug, it will be easy for the customers to ensure the purchase of only a genuine medicine.

“Moreover, because of any complaint such as mixing of unwanted chemicals or a fungus in a drug, it will also be easy for the companies to track the movement of the medicine and recall it.” The official said the bar code system would also help government hospitals which purchased large consignments of drugs in checking the expiry date, availability of medicine and the inventory control.

When contacted, Dr Mohammad Aslam, the chief executive officer of Drap, confirmed to Dawn that the authority had decided to introduce the identification code system.

“Because of the bar code, chances of the sale of spurious drugs will be eliminated. Drap has already held two meetings with the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, Pharma Bureau and other stakeholders in this regard. They are willing to introduce the bar code as it is in their own interest,” he added.

He said that initially there was a proposal to use the scratch-able bar code like that on the prepaid phone cards. However, the proposal was dropped because it was costly. A machine, called inject printer, will print the bar code on every packet of medicines at the time of packing, Dr Aslam added.

He said the bar code would be introduced from January 1, 2016, on a voluntarily basis and would become mandatory from April 1, 2016. An awareness campaign will be launched from January, he said.

Citizens who don’t have smart phones can request the owner of the medical store or any other person to help them verify the medicine, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2015

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