QR codes may become mandatory on drug packs

All medicine packs in India will have to carry a unique quick response code (QR) come April. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) is likely to issue an order to this effect within a few weeks, sources said. The idea for QR coding medicines is two-pronged, said an official from DoP. “Firstly, the intention is to pass on the benefit of fair pricing to the consumer, and secondly, it is to track drugs so that the threat of fake medicines can be eliminated,” the official said.