Spurious drugs

Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry is under siege from a flood of counterfeit and substandard medicines, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that one in ten drugs in developing countries is fake. In Pakistan, the number rises alarmingly to over 50% for life-saving drugs. The situation is dire, with a nationwide network of counterfeiters operating from Multan to Karachi and Lahore to the remote corners of Balochistan. However, a transformative solution has emerged. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has launched a mobile app that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of medicines via QR codes. This app not only detects fake drugs but also incentivises users by offering a 2% cashback on each scanned product, whether genuine or counterfeit. More importantly, it nudges citizens toward digital banking and encourages the transition from an informal to a formal economy, achieving dual goals of public health protection and financial inclusion.

The app’s process is elegantly simple: register once using CNIC and a bank account or wallet ID, scan any medicine’s QR code, and instantly receive a message confirming its safety or warning of its falseness. Simultaneously, scan data is sent to DRAP, and a 2% reward is transferred to the user’s bank account. The built-in system prevents repeated scans of the same code. This initiative, though technologically modest, has the potential to spark a nationwide movement against counterfeit pharmaceuticals and simultaneously pull millions into Pakistan’s formal financial system—a feat the country’s institutions have struggled to achieve for decades.

Overview:

This article tackles the growing threat of counterfeit medicines in Pakistan and DRAP’s innovative app-based response. It highlights how technology can empower ordinary citizens to detect fake drugs, inform regulatory authorities, and benefit financially, all while promoting digital financial inclusion. The article is a powerful example of low-cost, citizen-centric reform with massive potential impact.

NOTES:

The article outlines Pakistan’s grave issue with counterfeit and substandard medicines, especially life-saving drugs which are reportedly over 50% fake. The counterfeit drug trade spans cities like Multan, Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar. It indicates a deeply rooted nationwide problem. In response, DRAP’s launch of a mobile app introduces a practical, user-friendly solution that allows consumers to verify medicine authenticity via QR code scanning. This system not only provides real-time verification but also notifies DRAP and transfers 2% of the medicine’s value to the user’s bank account or digital wallet. The article stresses the broader implications: the app encourages formal banking, provides public health protection and empowers citizens. It’s a rare example of policy that is simple, scalable and impactful, achieving what decades of government campaigns could not.

Related CSS Subjects and Topics:

• Pakistan Affairs: Public health governance, regulatory institutions
• Current Affairs: Technological interventions in developing economies
• Governance & Public Policy: Anti-counterfeit measures, digital inclusion
• Economic Development: Informal to formal economy transition
• Science and Technology: Mobile health (mHealth) applications in governance

Notes for Beginners:

This article explains how fake medicines are harming people in Pakistan. Over half of the life-saving drugs might not be real. To stop this, a new app by DRAP lets people scan a QR code on medicine to check if it is safe. If they use the app, they also get back 2% of the medicine’s cost. It’s a smart idea that helps people stay healthy and brings more people into the banking system. Even small rewards can help big changes happen in a country like Pakistan.

Facts and Figures:

• $83 billion worth of counterfeit drugs sold worldwide each year (WHO).
• 10% of medical products in developing countries are fake.
• Over 50% of life-saving drugs in Pakistan are reportedly counterfeit.
• QR code scanning rewards users with 2% cashback, regardless of drug authenticity.
• One-time registration via CNIC and bank/wallet account required.
• Repeat scans of the same code are blocked to prevent abuse.

To sum up, this article is a powerful example of how practical, citizen-oriented innovation can address deep-rooted issues in health and governance. It combines verification, accountability, and public incentive in one elegant solution. It gives Pakistan a realistic shot at tackling counterfeit drugs while promoting digital financial growth.

Difficult Words and Meanings:

1. Spurious – Fake or false; not genuine

Syn: Bogus | Ant: Authentic

2. Adulterated – Contaminated or made impure by inferior substances

Syn: Tainted | Ant: Pure

3. Façade – A deceptive outward appearance

Syn: Illusion | Ant: Reality

4. Incentivise – To motivate or encourage through rewards

Syn: Encourage | Ant: Discourage

5. Counterfeit – Imitation made to deceive