July 06, 2023 (MLN): The policy board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss measures to curb sale of fake medicines in the country, latest press issued yesterday showed.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Policy Board held its meeting on Wednesday and issued warning to all pharmaceutical companies that are not printing barcodes on the packing of their products.
The Board, chaired by the Secretary National Health, asked for a report on implementation of barcoding rules.
According to these rules, pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers must print 2 D barcoding on the packaging of their products.
Putting such measures as 2 D barcode matrix for identification of medicinal products help in eradication of spurious and falsified drugs that pose a serious threat to health of citizens.
It was decided in the Board that over the next two weeks printing of barcodes, as per rules, must be ensured.
DRAP will immediately issue warning letters to all those pharmaceutical companies that have not registered their barcode data with DRAP and are not printing 2 D barcodes on packing of their products, it noted.
This is an important step to stop entry of spurious and counterfeit drugs in the market that can save hundred of citizens from harmful effects of such illegal drugs/ medicine.
