Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal has made it clear that the government will not compromise on the implementation of the 2D barcode system for medicines, stressing that the measure is essential to ensure the safety, quality, and authenticity of pharmaceutical products in Pakistan.
The health minister emphasized the need to introduce and enforce a proper medicine-tracking system to protect patients from counterfeit, substandard, and illegally marketed medicines. He maintained that pharmaceutical manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders must follow the 2D barcode requirement in accordance with government regulations.
The 2D barcode system is designed to provide each medicine pack with a unique identification code, making it easier to verify the authenticity of products and trace their movement throughout the supply chain. Through this system, medicines can be monitored from manufacturing facilities to distributors, pharmacies, and ultimately consumers.
The initiative is considered an important step towards strengthening Pakistan’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework. It can help regulatory authorities identify suspicious products, improve transparency in the medicine supply chain, and reduce the chances of counterfeit medicines reaching patients.
