12:47, 03 марта 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Maria ORLOVA
Kyrgyzstan launches medicines traceability system. The Director of the Department of Medicines and Medical Products of the Ministry of Health Ainura Abaliyeva told at a press conference.
According to her, the decision on the introduction of the system comes into force on March 4. It is mandatory for all manufacturers and suppliers of medicines in the country.
Ainura Abaliyeva called the introduction of the system an important step to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicines in the country. According to her, each box will have a QR code, upon reading which you can get full information about the drug: serial number, name, manufacturer, expiration date, and more.
«Thus, we will be able to track the medicine at all stages: from import to Kyrgyzstan to the patient. It will be possible to detect sale of prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription, their prices, and to compare them. In addition, there is a list of medicines, the cost of which is regulated. The system will not allow them to be sold at a higher price,» Ainura Abaliyeva said.
The system will help prevent the sale of counterfeit medicines.
«We are developing a mobile application for patients. With its help, they will be able to read the QR code and receive full information about the drug, instructions in two languages, a list of possible side effects (or report their own). If the application does not find a medicine, then it was possibly imported illegally,» the director of the department said.
She added that some hospitals, pharmacies, distributors are connected to the system. According to calculations, its full introduction may take about 1.5 years.
Ainura Abaliyeva reminded that a ban on the supply of medicines without labeling will be imposed from 2024.