NHRC proposes central drug registry, real-time tracking to curb spurious medicines

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended a centralised registration system for medicines sold in India, along with a portal to track real time their movement through supply chains and dynamic QR codes for authentication, as part of a broad set of measures to curb spurious and counterfeit drugs.

The commission proposed a National Drug Data Registration Certificate-a centralised and authenticated system under which every medicine including branded, branded generic, unbranded generic and products manufactured by third-party or for domestic use or export would be compulsorily registered through a central government portal.

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It also proposed the creation of a drug trace-and-track portal containing details of medicines including manufacturer identity, composition, batch information and the distribution chain. The system would enable real-time tracking of drugs entering each state or union territory, initially focusing on life-saving and high-risk medicines, the commission said.

Another key suggestion is a centrally regulated digital authentication protocol, under which QR codes on medicine packs would be dynamic and uniquely serialised to prevent duplication and ensure standardised data governance across manufacturers.

The proposals follow an open house discussion on 'Measures to Curb Spurious Medicines in India' held earlier this year under the chairpersonship of NHRC member justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi. Representatives of central and state drug authorities, organisations and other stakeholders participated in the discussion.

The NHRC forwarded the recommendations for implementation to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in August. The regulator referred the proposals to the drug consultative committee, an expert committee under the CDSCO, to give recommendations.

ET has seen a copy of the document listing the proposals.

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The commission recommended developing a centralised national database of cases related to counterfeit medicines, containing information on offenders, products, emerging patterns and enforcement outcomes. The database could be used with artificial intelligence-enabled tools to identify organised networks and repeat offenders.

It also proposed a uniform standard operating procedure covering forensic protocols, sampling, residue and laboratory analysis, supply-chain investigation, digital evidence extraction and legal strategies.