New Delhi: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has introduced new traceability regulations aimed at curbing the proliferation of counterfeit medicines in the country. The rules require pharmaceutical companies to adopt advanced tracking systems, ensuring that every batch of drugs can be traced from production to the end consumer.
These traceability guidelines are a response to the ongoing challenge of fake medicines, which pose significant health risks and undermine public trust in healthcare. Under the new regulations, pharmaceutical manufacturers must incorporate unique identifiers, such as barcodes or QR codes, on their packaging. These codes will be linked to a central database managed by the DCGI, enabling real-time monitoring and verification of drugs throughout the supply chain.
The new system will allow regulators, distributors, and consumers to easily verify the authenticity of medicines. By scanning the unique code on a drug’s packaging, stakeholders can access detailed information about the product, including its origin, manufacturing date, and distribution history. This transparency is expected to significantly reduce the distribution of counterfeit drugs, which often enter the market through unregulated channels.
