QR Code on API: Now it will be easier to identify whether the medicine you have bought from chemist or online portal is real or fake. The government has taken a strict step towards stopping counterfeit medicines. The government has made it mandatory to put QR codes on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) used in medicines. By doing this, customers will know whether the medicine purchased by them is genuine or fake. The Union Health Ministry has issued a notification regarding this new rule.
When will the new rule come into force
Let us tell you that this new rule regarding real and fake medicines will be applicable from next year i.e. from January 1, 2023. From January 1, 2023, it will be mandatory to put QR code in the API. This will make it easier to identify genuine and counterfeit medicines. Also, this will make it easier to track the pharmaceutical company.
Apart from this, by applying QR code in the API, this information will also be easily collected whether there has been any tampering with the formula to make the medicine, where is the origin of the raw material and where is this product going.
3% quality of medicine is substandard
Patients are not benefited by medicines made from fake, bad or below quality API. DTAB i.e. Drugs Technical Advisory Board had approved this proposal in June 2019. Many reports claimed that 20 percent of the medicines made in India are fake. According to a government report, 3 percent of medicines are of substandard quality.
The decision was stuck since 2011
Since 2011, the government was trying to implement this system, but due to repeated refusal of pharma companies, no concrete decision could be taken on it. Pharma companies were more concerned that different government departments would issue different guidelines.
There was a demand from the companies that a uniform QR code should be implemented across the country, after which in the year 2019, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization prepared this draft. Under which it was suggested to make QR code mandatory for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
What is API
API stands for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. They are the main raw materials for making intermediates, tablets, capsules and syrups. API plays a major role in the manufacture of any medicine and for this Indian companies are largely dependent on China.
