Habit-forming drugs to be bar-coded

The health ministry may introduce mandatory bar coding for 11 habit-forming drugs, including some cough syrups, painkillers and sleeping tablets, to stop their misuse and an illicit trade in them.

- Priyanka Sharma

The list also includes the formulations used to make these drugs. These 11 medicines are: codeine- based cough syrups, fentanyl and its analogues, buprenorphine injections, tramadol, alprazolam, nitrazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, zolpidem and ketamine -- that are commonly used as sleeping pills, for pain relief and to control anxiety.

The government is concerned over the “dual use" of these prescription drugs and an illegal trade, citing instances of unauthorized supplies of raw materials to the chemical industry. QR codes will allow authorities to digitally trace and track the manufacture and purchases of these drugs, which are classed as narcotics.