Cabinet Approves Track-and-Trace System for Pharmaceutical Drugs
The federal cabinet has approved the establishment of a track-and-trace system for pharmaceutical drugs in Pakistan, a measure aimed at combating counterfeit medicines, ensuring supply chain integrity, and improving regulatory oversight of the pharmaceutical sector. The system will enable real-time monitoring of drug movement from manufacturer to patient.
Counterfeit and substandard medicines have long been identified as a serious public health threat in Pakistan, with regulatory agencies estimating that a significant proportion of drugs in circulation fail to meet quality standards. The track-and-trace mechanism is expected to provide an enforceable chain of custody for registered pharmaceutical products.
The system will require pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to register and scan products at each stage of the supply chain using serialised identification codes. Implementation will be phased, with larger manufacturers expected to comply first before requirements are extended to smaller producers.
The drug regulatory authority and health ministry will jointly oversee deployment. The initiative has been welcomed by the formal pharmaceutical industry as a measure that will level the competitive environment by penalising producers of substandard products.
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