New Delhi, June 25: The Government of India has mandated the use of QR codes on vaccines, antimicrobials, and cancer drugs as part of a strengthened regulatory framework aimed at curbing counterfeit medicines and improving drug traceability across the supply chain.
Officials said the move is intended to ensure end-to-end tracking of critical and high-value pharmaceutical products, enhancing patient safety and strengthening trust in the healthcare system. The QR code system will allow stakeholders, including regulators, healthcare providers, and consumers, to verify the authenticity of medicines in real time.
The initiative is expected to improve transparency across manufacturing, distribution, and retail channels by enabling digital verification at every stage of the supply chain. Authorities said this will help reduce the risk of spurious or substandard drugs entering the market.
Regulatory bodies will oversee the implementation process, ensuring compliance from pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. Companies will be required to integrate QR-based tracking systems into packaging for the specified categories of medicines.
Health officials noted that the step is particularly significant for life-saving drugs such as vaccines, cancer treatments, and antimicrobial medicines, where counterfeit risks can have serious public health implications.
The government stated that the initiative aligns with its broader goal of leveraging digital technologies to strengthen healthcare governance and improve patient safety outcomes.
Experts believe the measure will enhance accountability in the pharmaceutical sector and position India’s drug regulatory system among the more advanced globally in terms of traceability and anti-counterfeit mechanisms.
