The government is planning to launch a "track and trace" mechanism for top-selling medicines to prevent the sale of counterfeit and sub-standard medicines and ensure quality. In the first phase of the initiative, 300 top-selling drugs will print or affix bar codes or quick response codes on their "primary" packaging labels, including widely-used antibiotics, cardiac, pain-relief pills, and anti-allergics, with an MRP of over Rs 100.

Over the years, there have been several instances of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs on the market, some of which have been seized by state drug regulators. Recently, among the major cases, Abbott claimed that its thyroid medication Thyronorm, listed by the Telangana drug authority as "not of standard quality," was counterfeit and not manufactured or marketed by it.

Industry experts claim that pharma firms must ensure quality in both the home and overseas markets, and barcoding could help. In June, the government asked pharmaceutical companies to print or affix barcodes or quick response codes on their primary packaging labels or on the secondary package labels that store data or information legible with software applications to facilitate authentication.

Once the software is in place, the consumer will be able to check the genuineness of the medicine by feeding the unique identification code onto a portal developed by the ministry, and later track it even through a mobile phone or text message. 

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/bar-codes-could-come-soon-to-plug-menace-of-sub-standard-drugs/94580216 )