Pakistan will introduce a barcode system for all medicines within 60 days to eliminate counterfeit and substandard drugs, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal announced.
Speaking at the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) headquarters, Kamal said all preparations for the implementation of the system had been completed by the Ministry of Health and relevant institutions.
The barcode system will enable full traceability of medicines, ensure patients receive genuine products and help remove fake drugs from the market.
The minister noted that while Pakistan produces 85 percent of its medicines locally, nearly 99 percent of pharmaceutical raw materials are imported, mainly from China.
The Federal Minister for Health also stressed the need to develop domestic production of raw materials to reduce import dependence.
