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DCGI directs state regulators to mandate display of PvPI's QR code in pharmacy premises
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
November 22 , 2025
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The Drugs Controller General (India) has directed the drug licensing authorities in the states and Union Territories (UTs) to implement display of a Quick Response (QR) code for adverse drug reporting at all retail and wholesale pharmacy premises across the country.
This is in line with the decision of the 16th Working Group Meeting of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), held on June 18, 2025, and in an effort to strengthen the patient safety and pharmacovigilance in the country, said the drug regulator.
Based on this, all State Licensing Authorities and Union Territory Drug Licensing Authorities shall ensure the display of a designated QR code, which has also been shared by the DCGI, at a prominent location within every retail and wholesale pharmacy premises across the country.
Besides, the toll free number of PvPI shall also be clearly displayed with the QR code at each pharmacy outlet.
"This measure will facilitate seamless reporting of Adverse Events/Adverse Drug Reactions (AE/ADRs) by the public and healthcare professionals through the indigenous PvPI Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring System (ADRMS)," said DCGI Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi in a circular to all stakeholders.
The DCGI has also requested the State and UT drug controllers to ensure wide dissemination of the circular among all the license holders and "monitor strict compliance with these directives to promote drug safety and protect public health."
It may be noted that the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), which is also the National Coordination Centre of the PvPI, has introduced a first-of-its-kind online reporting platform designed for easy access through a QR code, in order to enhance consumer participation in reporting ADRs. It has also advised that the Code and the toll-free number should be displayed in all retail and wholesale pharmacy or chemist stores across the country.
The theme of the National Pharmacovigilance Week observed from 17th–23rd September, 2025 was “Your Safety, Just a Click Away: Report to PvPI”, with an aim to sensitize healthcare professionals, regulators, researchers, and the public to actively report adverse drug reactions ADRs through simplified digital platforms.
As reported earlier, the indigenously developed ADRMS software of PvPI, launched by the Union Health minister J P Nadda on August 19, 2024, is India’s first medical product safety database tailored to meet the needs of the Indian population.
It facilitates the collection and analysis of adverse events related to medicines and medical devices, thereby significantly strengthening the country’s pharmacovigilance infrastructure. This software not only streamlines the reporting process but also empowers consumers and healthcare professionals to directly report adverse events, ensuring a more comprehensive capture of safety information.
The data received through ADRMS will help IPC to make regulatory recommendations to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in making informed regulatory decisions and promotes the safe use of medicines among healthcare professionals and the public.
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