A QR code gives consumers information on a product, but that in isolation is not enough, says S Swaminathan, Chief Executive Officer with supply-chain standards organisation GS1 India. The entire healthcare supply chain needs to be secure and connected with data presented in a uniform manner, for instance, to be able to weed out possible counterfeits in the supply chain, he explains.
The Centre had recently expanded its initiative mandating QR (quick response) codes to medicinal products including cancer drugs, narcotics, psychotropic drugs and vaccines, by July 1, 2027, besides antimicrobials by July 1, 2028. This was an extension of its earlier initiative (2022), mandating 300 top drug brand products to sport QR/bar codes, starting August 2023.
The QR code provides consumers nine data elements for each drug product – the unique product identification code, proper and generic name of the drug, brand name, name and address of the manufacturer, batch number, date of manufacture, date of expiry, manufacturing licence number, and details of excipients, a note from the Health Ministry explained. “The availability of these details through digital authentication tools will facilitate seamless verification and tracking of medicines across the supply chain,” it added.
While QR codes give consumers product information as mandated by the Centre, Swaminathan points out, the initiative needs to leap to the next level in terms of standardisation of the format in which information is presented – so it can be uniformly read across warehouse, distributor, stockist and chemist. The linkages will help with traceability if something goes wrong, as data will be available from the origin to the last point of dispensation, he explains.
The complete ecosystem has to be developed, Swaminathan told businessline, pegging the evolution of the track-and-trace journey at 2 on a scale of 10, indicating a long journey ahead in creating the linkages for traceability or product recalls, especially when it comes to medical devices. Companies that export are aligned to international standards, he says calling for greater streamlining in the presentation of QR code data in the domestic market as well. (GS1 was set up by the Commerce Ministry and industry bodies to outline global standards that facilitate transfer of product information. It is an affiliate of GS1 Global.)
India cannot work in silos, says Swaminathan, adding that aligning with internationally recognised systems would ensure that the product, batch, and expiry information were encoded in a universal manner. “This strengthens patient safety, builds consumer confidence, and ensures that every stakeholder in the pharmaceutical supply chain benefits from transparency and interoperability,” he said.
Published on August 16, 2026
