The DRAP Mehfooz Dawa app lets you check whether a medicine is genuine and verify its registered price before you buy it. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has urged consumers to use the free Mehfooz Dawa application to scan the 2D barcode printed on a medicine pack and confirm the product’s details and price. The app is part of DRAP’s centralised Track and Trace System, which became operational across Pakistan on 9 October 2026 and aims to curb counterfeit medicines, overpricing and other illegal practices.
What the Mehfooz Dawa App Does
Scans the 2D barcode: point your smartphone at the 2D barcode on the medicine pack and the app reads the product’s registered information.
Confirms genuineness: the app shows whether the medicine matches DRAP’s registered record, so you can tell a genuine product from a counterfeit one.
Verifies the price: the app displays the medicine’s registered price, so you can check whether the price being charged is correct.
Shows product details: scanning the pack brings up details about the registered product, including its identity and registration status.
Reports complaints: report medicines you suspect are fake, substandard or overpriced.
Works on any smartphone: all you need is a smartphone.
Key Facts at a Glance
Item
Details
App name
Mehfooz Dawa (DRAP)
What it checks
Medicine genuineness and registered price through a 2D barcode scan
Medicines registered
More than 90,000 medicines from around 800 pharmaceutical companies
Track and Trace System
Operational across Pakistan since 9 October 2026
Barcode cut-off date
1 October 2026, set by DRAP for launching the barcode mechanism
Launched by
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Ministry of National Health Services
How to Check Your Medicine
Check the medicine at the pharmacy counter before you pay, so that you can still refuse or return a product that does not verify.
Download the app: get the free Mehfooz Dawa app from the Google Play Store.
Scan the barcode: open the app and scan the 2D barcode printed on the medicine pack.
Read the details: compare the product details on your screen with the information printed on the pack.
Check the price: compare the registered price shown by the app with the price the seller is charging.
Do not buy if it fails: if details or price do not match, or the pack looks tampered with, do not buy it and report it through the app.
Scan before you pay: scan at the counter, while you can still refuse the product.
Match the pack details: the batch number and expiry date shown by the app should match what is printed on the box.
Keep the receipt: keep it with the pack in case you need to complain later.
The centralised Track and Trace System for medicines distributed across Pakistan became operational on 9 October 2026. Besides helping consumers, the system allows regulators to monitor medicines as they move through the supply chain. This could make it easier for authorities to identify and recall specific products if complaints, safety problems or quality issues emerge.
Why the Barcode System Took Years
Pakistan first proposed introducing the medicine barcode system in 2015. The federal cabinet approved the initiative in 2017, but administrative delays prevented its full implementation for several years. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal later took notice of the prolonged delay and directed authorities to introduce the system.
DRAP’s Warning Against Fake Medicines
DRAP continues to issue alerts over counterfeit, substandard, adulterated and unregistered medicines. In a 5 November alert, it advised consumers to buy therapeutic products only from authorised or licensed outlets and check their authenticity and condition carefully.
Buy from licensed outlets: purchase medicines only from authorised or licensed pharmacies and retail outlets.
Check authenticity and condition: inspect the pack carefully for damage, tampering or missing seals before buying.
Verify the barcode: scan the 2D barcode with the Mehfooz Dawa app whenever the pack carries one.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor: if you are unsure about a medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor before using it.
Report suspicious medicines: report counterfeit, substandard or unregistered products to DRAP so the regulator can act.
The DRAP Mehfooz Dawa app gives every smartphone user a simple way to check whether a medicine is genuine and whether its price is correct. With 90,000+ medicines registered with DRAP and the Track and Trace System live since 9 October 2026, consumers can scan the 2D barcode on a medicine pack before paying to confirm its details and registered price. Buy only from licensed outlets, scan the barcode at the counter, and report any suspicious product to DRAP.
FAQs
What is the Mehfooz Dawa app? Mehfooz Dawa is DRAP’s free app that lets consumers scan the 2D barcode on a medicine pack to check whether the medicine is genuine and verify its registered price.
How do I check if my medicine is genuine? Download the Mehfooz Dawa app, scan the 2D barcode on the medicine pack, and compare the product details and price shown by the app with the information printed on the pack.
How many medicines are registered with DRAP? More than 90,000 medicines from around 800 pharmaceutical companies are registered with DRAP, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.
When did the Track and Trace System become operational? The centralised Track and Trace System for medicines across Pakistan became operational on 9 October 2026.
What should I do if a medicine looks fake? Do not buy or use it. Report it to DRAP through the app or the Product Quality Defects form on dra.gov.pk.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
