MYSURU: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the state government will send a proposal to the Centre seeking mandatory QR codes on medicine strips to help visually impaired persons access drug information using smartphones.
Speaking at the ‘Investigation of Medication Practices and Care Technology for Visually Impaired Persons (IMPACT-VIP)’ roundtable discussion and stakeholders’ meet organised by JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER) at Sri Rajendra Auditorium on Monday, Rao appreciated the collaboration between JSS AHER and Japan-based Export Japan Inc for introducing technology that enables visually impaired users to scan QR codes on medicine strips and receive details such as the drug name, manufacturer, expiry date, batch number and authenticity through voice output.
Noting that QR code technology is widely used in restaurants, hotels and government departments, Rao said its adoption in pharmaceuticals would significantly benefit the visually impaired.
“If pharma companies implement QR codes on medicine strips, visually challenged persons can independently identify and verify medicines through voice-enabled information.
This will also help people with language barriers, those who cannot read, and the elderly to use the right medicines,” he said. As such decisions must be taken at the national level, Rao said the state would forward a proposal to the government of India and also attempt to bring pharmaceutical companies on board.
Dr T M Pramod Kumar, Principal of JSS College of Pharmacy, said medication errors, unclear labels and inaccessible instructions pose serious risks to visually impaired patients. “This meeting aims to listen to those experiences, analyse evidence collected across Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and explore how technology and policy together can improve medication safety and independence,” he said.
Representatives from Export Japan Inc, Tokuhiro Arakawa and Brittany Partin, and from Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory, Jotaro Sunahara and Kenta Miyamoto, were also present.