ISLAMABAD: Federal government has approved the nationwide implementation of a track-and-trace system for medicines in a major step aimed at eliminating counterfeit drugs, the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.
Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal said the federal cabinet has formally approved the rollout of the system across the country, along with key amendments to the Drug Labeling and Packaging Rules 1978 to support its enforcement.
He described the decision as a “historic step” toward ending the circulation of fake and substandard medicines, adding that every medicine will now be digitally trackable and verifiable for the first time in Pakistan.
Under the new system, consumers will be able to verify essential information such as a drug’s expiry date and price through digital means, improving transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) will oversee the implementation of the system nationwide. Officials said pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers will be required to print standardized 2D barcodes and serialization data on every medicine pack.
Mustafa Kamal said the initiative would replace traditional monitoring methods with a modern digital framework, strengthening oversight and helping protect public health and trust.
He added that DRAP will soon issue technical guidelines for the industry, while consultations with relevant stakeholders have already been held to ensure smooth implementation.
More read, HIV screening to become compulsory before surgery: Mustafa Kamal
Earlier, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has announced that HIV screening will now be made mandatory before any surgical procedure as part of strengthened measures to control the spread of the virus.
The statement was made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Mahesh Kumar Malani.
During the session, health ministry officials briefed lawmakers on the growing burden of HIV cases in the country.
Officials revealed that the number of registered HIV/AIDS cases in Pakistan has reached 84,000, out of which 61,000 patients are currently receiving treatment, while more than 16,000 have been lost to follow-up.
