Since a QR code generator online is now more accessible, the world has seen the integration of QR codes in various industries, such as medicine.
Did you know that India mandates 300 drug brands to include QR codes on their packaging labels?
These include commonly bought over-the-counter drugs, such as vitamins, pain relievers, and hypertension medicines.
The Union Ministry of Health introduced the use of this digital tool to promote information transparency and offset counterfeit medicines.
How can a QR code work on a drug’s label?
1. Provide product details
Drug manufacturers must include complete details about their products, such as the medicine’s components, its date of manufacture and expiry, and serial number.
The problem is that they would have to print this information using small fonts to conserve space on the label. This can be inconvenient for consumers with bad eyesight.
To solve this, they can use a PDF QR code to give consumers an easier and more accessible method of reading the information.
2. Present instructions and precautions
Medicines should also include dosage instructions and precautions for adverse drug reactions such as allergies.
It’s also essential to provide consumers with a guide on how to aid a person who experiences such reactions upon taking the drug.
But these are long and will take too much space on the packaging. Users may lose or misplace it if they’re printed on a separate label with the box.
Manufacturers can then use QR codes on pharmaceutical packaging to route their consumers to a complete and detailed explanation of their products.
Once they’ve scanned and accessed the information, users can take screenshots or save a copy of the files on their phones to find them easily when needed.
3. Verify product authenticity
Counterfeit medicines are hazardous because they can potentially put consumers at health risks such as food poisoning.
But with a QR code on medicines’ packaging labels, people engaged in this illegal activity will find it harder to produce counterfeit drugs.
The QR code can show consumers the product’s serial number, which they can then enter on the manufacturer’s website to verify its authenticity.
It can also bring scanning users to an official landing page created by the manufacturer, telling them that the product is legitimate.
4. Redirect to online sources
Drug companies now use online domains such as their websites and social media pages to connect with target and existing consumers and promote their products.
They can use a URL QR code to redirect users to these online spaces to boost their followers and increase visitors.
The traffic generated from visitors scanning the QR code will help promote the website’s ranking on search engine results pages.
5. Show video guides on product use
Some medicines, such as Salbutamol inhalers for people with asthma, come with a printed guide on properly using the product.
But do you know what’s better than reading a guide? Watching a video on how to use it. The visual input will make the instructions clearer to the consumers.
Wait a second. How can I place a video on a medicine package?
You can create a video QR code and place it on the packaging box or label. It will then redirect the consumer to a video guide, and they can simply watch it from their smartphone.
6. Collect customer review
Consumers love it when companies listen to their comments and suggestions about products. Drug manufacturers can do this with a feedback QR code.
One scan and consumers will find a survey form or questionnaire where they can rate the medicine’s effectiveness and provide their experience of when they used it.
7. Reveal manufacturer contact details
Manufacturers should also include their contact details in the packaging so that their consumers would quickly locate or reach them whenever they have questions or, sometimes, complaints.
These details include their address, telephone or mobile numbers, and email address. They can also have their official website and social pages.
To contain all these details in one place, they can create a vCard QR code and place it on their medicines’ packaging labels.
What’s great about using this tool is that consumers can easily save the contact details on their smartphones after scanning the code.
This is made possible using a QR code generator software. Adding a logo will definitely add to the scannability of the QR code.
QR codes on pharmaceutical products for an improved consumer experience
Putting QR codes on the packaging labels of drugs and medicines provide complete and exact details to consumers.
These details will help keep them safe as they use these medicines to improve their well-being.
