With its plan to introduce barcoding on pharma products in domestic market as part of efforts to counter spurious drugs, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has convened a meeting of industry bodies such as OPPI, IPA, IDMA along with pharma trade organisation, AIOCD on July 27.

DoP has already made it mandatory for pharma exporters to implement barcoding on secondary and tertiary of pharmaceuticals packaging from April 1, 2016. On the other hand, the country has struggled with unabated supply of spurious medicines at the retail  level with no effective tracking system.

Last year the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in a draft circular announced its intention to extend track and trace system to drugs circulating in the domestic market.

As a part of this exercise, DoP secretary called this meeting of OPPI, IPA, IDMA and AIOCD to discuss the implementation of track and trace system for drugs sold in domestic market.

Complementing the government's move to implement barcoding on drugs circulating in the domestic market, Suresh Gupta, general secretary, AIOCD said “This is a welcome step. It will curb the loopholes in the system allowing certain unscrupulous elements in the pharma supply chain to circulate fake and sub standard drugs in the domestic market putting consumers at risk.”

"Counterfeits continue to remain a huge threat to the industry. As an industry we have the responsibility of providing quality medicines to Indian patients. We are supportive of initiatives that will provide our patients safe and quality drugs," said Kanchana TK, Director General, OPPI.

A considerable section of experts feels that if track and trace system is implemented for export market then why should the same not apply to the domestic supply?

Few years back a consumer rights group had approached the Allahabad High Court seeking implementation of track and trace system for drugs circulating in domestic market to check menace of spurious drugs. Following the High Court direction, the ministry had set up a task force to suggest it on the best way forward.