In a major step to eliminate fake medicines in the country, the Ministry of Health has secured approval for the implementation of a track and trace system for medicines.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said that the federal cabinet has formally approved the nationwide implementation of the track and trace system for medicines, and necessary amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packing Rules 1978 have also been approved for this purpose.
He said this decision is a major and historic step towards eliminating counterfeit medicines in Pakistan. For the first time, every medicine will be digitally tracked and verified, which will help identify and eliminate fake, substandard, and counterfeit medicines.
The health minister stated that after the implementation of this system, ordinary consumers will be able to easily access authentic information regarding a medicine’s expiry date and price.
He further informed that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan will implement this modern system across the country.
According to Mustafa Kamal, under the new regulations all pharmaceutical companies and importers will be required to print a standard 2D barcode and serialization data on every medicine pack. This important decision has been taken to secure and improve the pharmaceutical supply chain and modernize the system.
He added that the track and trace system will create a strong and effective barrier against counterfeit medicines and help Pakistan join leading countries adopting modern technology in the region.
The minister said that this system will replace traditional monitoring methods with a modern digital system, ensuring protection of public health, lives, and trust.
He also stated that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan will soon issue technical guidelines to facilitate the industry, and consultative meetings with stakeholders.
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