Drug authentication system to be applicable on 300 brands

INDORE: The authentication system for drugs planned by Drugs Controller General of India to avoid counterfeit and spurious medicines will be applicable on 300 brands as an experiment, before being implemented on all products.

A decision was taken after drug manufacturers raised worries about cost escalation and loss of business.

The drugs controller will introduce unique alpha numerical series printed on drugs with SMS number of manufacturer, where a customer can get details about the manufacturer on top 300 pharmaceutical brands, as per notification by the government.

Rajeev Mujumdar, DGM-HR of one of India’s leading pharmaceutical manufacture said, “This system will be a good initiate to check counterfeit drugs but there are chances that prices will escalate. Percentage of customers using the system to check the authenticity of manufacturer will be very less due to lack of awareness.”

According to MP Small Scale Drug Manufacturers Association, roll out of this system will escalate cost of medicines and throw local units out of business because of increased cost of operations.

MP Small Scale Drug Manufacturers Association president Himanshu Shah said, “Most local drug manufacturers of the region are into the job work for multinational companies. The new system will require additional cost of operation and trained workers. Meeting the requirement will be very difficult.”

According to leading local drugs manufacturers, alpha numerical authentication system will lift cost of packing, system and employees.

They said that local units may lose job work due to lack of trained staff and financial constraint requiring technical up gradation.

Drug manufacturers said the cost of implementation for authentication system will be at least around Rs30lakh per unit.

According to MP Small Scale Drug Manufacturers Association, the project has started on pilot mode and gradually will be implemented on all drugs.

A leading drug manufacturer from Indore, who did not wish to be named said, “Such system will significantly raise cost of medicines in the country. The authentication of drug manufacturers is required, where counterfeit drugs are abundant. In India, it is just 0.02 per cent.”