The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has urged consumers to use its Mehfooz Dawa mobile application to verify the authenticity and prices of medicines before purchasing them, as the government expands digital monitoring across the pharmaceutical sector. The application uses a two-dimensional (2D) barcode system that allows smartphone users to scan the barcode printed on medicine packaging and access information about the registered product, including its official price. The initiative is intended to help consumers identify discrepancies between medicine packaging and official registration records while providing a digital method to check whether retailers are charging the applicable price. The Ministry of National Health Services spokesperson, Sajid Shah, said approximately 800 pharmaceutical companies and more than 90,000 medicines were registered with DRAP. The application provides consumers with access to product information through barcode scanning, allowing them to check relevant details before completing a purchase. DRAP’s appeal comes as authorities seek to address the circulation of counterfeit, expired, substandard and unregistered medicines, alongside concerns about overpricing and other irregular practices in the pharmaceutical market.
To use the Mehfooz Dawa application, consumers need a smartphone and a medicine pack carrying the relevant 2D barcode. After scanning the code through the application, users can access information associated with the registered pharmaceutical product and check its listed price. This allows buyers to compare the information retrieved through the digital system with the details displayed on the packaging and the amount being charged by the seller. The facility is intended to make medicine verification more accessible by allowing consumers to check product information at the point of purchase rather than relying solely on printed labels or information provided by retailers. The barcode mechanism also forms part of a wider digital framework for pharmaceutical traceability, which is designed to improve visibility into the movement of medicines through the supply chain. By connecting product identification with registration information, the system can support regulatory monitoring and provide authorities with additional information when investigating complaints about medicine quality or authenticity. Consumers can use the available verification information to identify possible inconsistencies, although barcode scanning should be treated as an additional verification measure rather than a substitute for purchasing medicines from authorised and licensed pharmacies.
The consumer-facing application is linked to Pakistan’s centralised Track and Trace System for pharmaceutical products, which became operational on October 9, 2026. The system is intended to help regulators monitor medicines as they move through manufacturing, distribution and supply channels across the country. Its digital records can assist authorities in identifying specific products and batches if complaints, quality concerns or safety issues emerge, making it easier to trace affected medicines and facilitate recalls where necessary. The initiative also supports efforts to improve oversight of pharmaceutical distribution by providing a structured mechanism for recording and monitoring product movement. Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal had previously announced the introduction of mandatory 2D barcodes for medicines manufactured after October 9, enabling consumers to check product authenticity, prices and expiry-related information through a mobile application. The government has also discussed extending the barcode mechanism to imported, veterinary and poultry medicines. The wider system is therefore intended to cover more than consumer price checks, with the objective of improving traceability and supporting regulatory action across different segments of the pharmaceutical market.
Pakistan’s medicine barcode initiative has a longer history, with the proposal first introduced in 2015 and approved by the federal cabinet in 2017. However, administrative and implementation delays prevented the system from being fully introduced for several years. The initiative gained renewed attention after Health Minister Mustafa Kamal directed the relevant authorities to move forward with implementation, while DRAP subsequently set October 1, 2026, as the deadline for introducing the barcode mechanism. The operational Track and Trace System and the Mehfooz Dawa application represent steps towards translating that policy into a digital facility for consumers and regulators. DRAP has separately advised people to purchase medicines and other therapeutic products from authorised and licensed outlets and to check their authenticity and condition before buying them. The application adds a technology-based verification option to these precautions, giving consumers a way to access registered product information and compare listed prices through their smartphones. As adoption expands, the effectiveness of the initiative will depend on the coverage of barcodes across medicine packaging, the accuracy of registration records and the consistent use of the tracking system by pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. The programme is expected to support greater transparency in the medicine market while giving regulators additional tools to monitor pharmaceutical products and respond to reported quality and safety concerns.
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