The problem of counterfeit and substandard medicines has been a matter of concern for a long time in India. Many times it becomes difficult for patients to identify whether the medicine they are purchasing is genuine or fake. To deal with this problem, the Central Government has decided to introduce QR codes to further strengthen the tracking and verification system of medicines. Along with this, changes have also been proposed in the shelf life rules of imported medicines.
Let us know what decision the government took? What is Schedule H2? Where will the QR code be placed? What will be the benefit of this? When will these rules come into effect? What was the arrangement earlier? Which medicines will have these QR codes? What change is proposed in the rules of imported drugs and what is its purpose?
What decision did the government take?
Recently, pregnant women died in Kota, Rajasthan due to fake injections. During investigation, the drug samples were found to have failed the quality test and the amount of oxytocin in the oxytocin injection was found to be zero. The investigation found that the firm sold more injections in the market than the number of medicines it had purchased.
In view of such cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has expanded the scope of Schedule H2 by amending the Drugs Rules, 1945. Now instead of being limited to only selected medicines, all medicines in these categories will come under Schedule H2. These include:
- all vaccines
- all antimicrobial drugs
- all anticancer drugs
- All narcotic and psychotropic drugs covered under NDPS Act, 1985
Now it will be mandatory to put QR code or bar code on all these medicines.