Code to check spurious drugs

New Delhi, June 24

India is all set to adopt the global unique identification code system to counter the sale of spurious drugs and over-pricing.

Drug Controller General of India GN Singh told IANS, “We already have a barcode system to check the authenticity of medicines that are exported.

“However, we did not have a system so far to check the medicines that come to India and those that are sold here.”

“The process has already been initiated. Within a couple of months, we will have a code system like the one in Pakistan,” he added.

In the neighbouring country, buyers having smartphones can verify a medicine and its price.

“The counterfeiters here are successful because we are neither making their task difficult nor making this business less profitable for them,” UK Gupta, president of the Authentication Solutions Providers’ Association, told IANS.

According to UKGupta, the product packaging is easily copied due to the availability of raw material in the neighbouring countries.

“Adopting authentication solutions is the most important preventive step.

“The government and brand owners should communicate to the consumers about the authentication features on their product and the means to verify the same,” Gupta said.

“Hologram is the best tool. These days, we have interactive and 3D holograms as well,” UKGupta added.

“A consumer can verify product details from a company’s website or by digital authentication of products with features such as barcodes or unique SMS verification codes,” he added. —IANS