How to check medicine is original or not (original vs duplicate) in Pakistan
The quickest reliable test is to scan the small square code on the box. If the result shows the right medicine and maker, the pack is registered in DRAP's track and trace system. If there is no code, or the scan fails, four more checks will tell you whether to trust the pack or take it back.
None of these checks takes special knowledge. They take a minute at the counter, and they are worth doing every time, especially for antibiotics, insulin, blood-pressure tablets and children's syrups, which counterfeiters target most.
1. Scan the Mehfooz Dawa code
Packs from manufacturers that have joined the programme carry a GS1 DataMatrix code, a small square of dots, with GTIN, serial, batch and expiry printed beside it. Scan it here or on DRAP's portal.
A verified result is the strongest evidence you can get as a patient. But read it properly: the medicine name, strength and company in the result should match the box in your hand. A real code copied onto a fake box would verify, yet show a different product or a serial that turns up on many boxes.
2. Find the DRAP registration number
Every medicine legally sold in Pakistan must be registered with DRAP and carry its registration number on the label, usually written as Reg. No. followed by digits. A pack with no registration number at all should not be on a pharmacy shelf. Imported medicines carry it too, often on a sticker added by the local importer.
3. Read the batch number, dates and price
A genuine pack prints a batch number, a manufacturing date, an expiry date and a maximum retail price. These should be printed cleanly, often embossed or laser-etched, and the batch and expiry on the box should match what is printed on the strips or bottle inside. A mismatch between outer box and inner strip is one of the clearest signs of repackaging.
4. Inspect the seal and the printing
- Seal: cartons, bottle caps and tubes should be sealed. Look for glue marks, cuts or a cap that turns too easily.
- Print quality: fakes often have fuzzy text, slightly wrong colours, uneven alignment or spelling mistakes in the leaflet.
- Leaflet: most medicines include a patient information leaflet. A missing or photocopied leaflet is a warning sign.
5. Look at the medicine itself
If you have used the medicine before, compare. Different colour, size, smell, a tablet that crumbles, a syrup that has separated, or an injection that is cloudy when it should be clear are all reasons to stop. Note any unusual side effects or a medicine that "does not work like before", and tell your doctor.
Practise: spot the fake
The pack marked Suspect has five warning signs. Tap where you see something wrong.
- Misspelled name. “Zenadool” instead of the real brand spelling. Copied packs often have typos.
- Logo looks wrong. Blurry or off-colour logos are a sign of scanned and reprinted artwork.
- No registration number. Every legal medicine prints a DRAP Reg. No. Here it is missing.
- Expiry looks altered. Uneven, overprinted or scratched dates suggest tampering.
- No square code. There is no scannable code, so this pack cannot be checked by serial number.
All five found. On a real pack, two or more of these signs is reason to stop and ask.
If something looks wrong
Do not take it. Keep the pack, the strips and your receipt, ask the pharmacy to replace it, and report it to DRAP. Reports are how bad batches get found and recalled.
How to check medicine is original or not: the full comparison
| Check | Original | Duplicate warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Square code scan | Verified, details match the box | Not verified, different product, or no code on a pack made after 9 Oct 2026 |
| Registration number | Printed and matches the product in the registration search | Missing, or belongs to another product |
| Batch and expiry | Same on box and strip, cleanly printed | Different, smudged, stickered or scratched |
| Printing | Sharp, aligned, correct spelling | Blurry, misaligned, typos, off colours |
| Seal | Intact | Broken or re-glued |
| Leaflet | Printed leaflet inside | Missing or photocopied |
| Price | At or below MRP | Far below the usual price |
| Medicine | Same as your last pack | Different colour, size, smell or effect |
Worked example: two packs side by side
Imran has two boxes of the same painkiller: one from his usual pharmacy, one bought cheaply from a roadside stall. Side by side, the stall box has a slightly paler green band, the font of the batch number is different, and the expiry is printed on a sticker. The leaflet inside is a poor photocopy. The usual box scans as verified; the stall box has no code even though its printed manufacturing date is December 2026. Five warning signs. He does not use it, keeps it and reports it. If he had only one box, the scan and the missing code on a recent pack would still have been enough to stop.
How to check medicine is genuine or not online
- Scan or type the code to verify the individual pack.
- Search the registration number and price.
- Search the batch in recall alerts, where DRAP lists batch numbers printed on known fakes.
- Run the nine-question checklist.
Online checks plus a careful look at the pack together give you the best answer a buyer can get.
Checking by SMS or phone call
People often search for "how to check original medicine by SMS". In Pakistan, DRAP's Mehfooz Dawa system works by scanning the code or entering its details online. We are not aware of an official SMS service. If you do not have a smartphone, see how to verify without one.
Original dawa kaise pehchanein
Code scan karein, registration number dekhein, batch aur expiry dabbay aur strip par milayein, seal aur chhapai dekhein aur qeemat MRP ke qareeb ho. Do ya zyada nishaniyan ghalat hon to dawa istemal na karein. Tafseel asli aur nakli dawa ki pehchan mein.
Questions people ask
Can I check original medicine by batch number?
A batch number alone cannot prove a pack is genuine, because every box from that production run carries the same number. It is useful for recalls: if DRAP announces a recalled batch, compare the number on your box. To verify one specific box, you need the serial number from the square code.
Can I check original medicine by SMS?
Some countries run SMS checks using a scratch-off code. Pakistan's Mehfooz Dawa system works by scanning the square code or entering its details on the web, not by SMS. Be careful with messages offering an SMS verification service; check who is behind them.
How do I know if a medicine is duplicate just by looking?
Look for blurred or uneven printing, spelling mistakes, colours that differ from your previous pack, a broken or re-glued seal, tablets that crumble or look different, and a missing registration number, batch or expiry. One sign alone is not proof, but two or more is a reason to stop and ask.
Is medicine from an online pharmacy safe?
It can be, if the seller is a licensed pharmacy with a physical address and a qualified pharmacist, gives a proper invoice, and delivers sealed packs. Scan the pack on arrival. Avoid social media sellers offering prices far below market.
How to check medicine is genuine or not?
Scan the square code on the box and compare the result with the pack. Then check the registration number, batch and expiry on box and strip, the seal, the printing and the price.
How to check medicine authenticity in Pakistan?
Use DRAP's Mehfooz Dawa system to verify the pack's serial number, through the official app, DRAP's portal or our scanner. For older packs without a code, use the label and recall checks.
What if only one of the warning signs appears?
One sign alone, such as a slightly different shade, may be a harmless printing change. Scan the pack and ask the pharmacist. Two or more signs together are a reason not to use it.
Fake vs original medicine: what is the biggest difference?
The serial number. A fake vs original medicine may look identical, but only the genuine pack's serial is in DRAP's records. Fake medicine vs real can also differ in print, seal, price and effect.
How to check medicine original or fake online?
Scan the code or type its details online, then check registration and recalls. That is how to check medicine is original or duplicate online.
How to identify genuine medicine quickly?
Verified scan, matching label details, intact seal, licensed seller and a price near MRP.
