In short: Buy only from licensed pharmacies and distributors, check that the batch number, expiry and manufacturer details on the pack are complete and match the invoice, and scan the QR code where there is one: since 1 August 2023 India’s top 300 medicine brands must carry a QR code that shows the product’s identity, batch and expiry. If anything looks wrong, do not use the medicine and report it.
Start with the source
The most reliable protection is the supply chain itself. A licensed distributor buys from the manufacturer or its authorised channel and records the batch number on every invoice, so every pack can be traced. Medicines offered unusually cheaply, without a proper bill, or from someone who cannot show a drug licence are the ones most likely to be falsified.
Scan the QR code
Under Schedule H2 of the Drugs Rules (notification GSR 823(E), dated 17 November 2022), manufacturers of 300 listed brands must print a QR code or barcode on every batch made from 1 August 2023. Scanning it with a phone should show:
- a unique product identification code
- the proper and generic name of the drug and its brand name
- the manufacturer’s name and address
- the batch number, date of manufacture and date of expiry
- the manufacturing licence number
Check the pack itself
Many genuine medicines are not on the top-300 list and carry no QR code, so the pack still needs a look:
- Batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates are printed clearly and match the invoice and the strip or vial inside.
- The manufacturer’s name, address and licence number are present.
- Seals, caps and tamper-evident features are intact, and the printing is sharp and consistently spelled.
- Prescription medicines carry the Rx symbol, and refrigerated products arrive cold, with the temperature record your supplier sends.
If something looks wrong
- Do not use the medicine. Keep it, with its pack and bill.
- Tell the supplier and the manufacturer straight away. If you bought it from RS Surgipharm, use our Report a concern page and we will act on it and inform the manufacturer.
- Suspected spurious or substandard medicines can be reported to your state drug control authority.
- Side effects after taking a medicine can be reported to the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India on its toll-free number, 1800-180-3024.
Quick answers
- Does every medicine in India have a QR code?
- No. The QR code is mandatory for the 300 brands listed in Schedule H2, for batches made from 1 August 2023. Manufacturers may add codes to other brands voluntarily, so a missing code is not proof that a medicine is fake.
- Where do I report a side effect?
- To the doctor who prescribed the medicine, and to the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India on 1800-180-3024. You can also tell the supplier, who should pass it to the manufacturer.
Sources
This guide is general information for healthcare professionals, procurement teams and patients, not medical, legal or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm with the relevant authority.