Govt to use QR codes on vaccines, cancer drugs, and antibiotics to prevent counterfeits.

The Indian government plans to introduce QR barcodes on vaccines, cancer drugs, and antibiotics to combat the sale of counterfeit medicines. These QR codes will allow consumers to verify the authenticity of their medications by scanning them to see details such as the manufacturer's name and address, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, and the manufacturing license number.

This initiative, discussed during a recent Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) meeting, aims to ensure the quality and safety of drugs in India, starting with a phased rollout. The move follows a similar mandate from last year, where QR codes were enforced on 300 commonly used medicines like Allegra and Calpol.

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India's vaccine market was valued at around ₹1,730 crore in 2024, and with rising demand due to population growth and increased healthcare awareness, the market is projected to expand. The cancer drug market, valued at $1.83 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $2.62 billion by 2029, driven by government initiatives to make healthcare more accessible.

Industry experts, like Dr. Santy Sajan, Group COO of Paras Health, believe this initiative will enhance transparency, improve traceability, and reduce the risk of counterfeit drugs, ultimately protecting public health.