Karnataka proposes QR codes on medicine packaging to aid visually impaired users
The proposal has been welcomed by disability advocacy groups, who noted that QR-based information would be significantly more accessible than the small printed text currently used on medicine strips and bottles
03 Feb 2026 | By Sai Deepthi
According to a latest news report, the Karnataka health department has proposed introducing QR codes on medicine strips to provide essential drug information to visually impaired users through smartphones.
Announcing the proposal, state health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the initiative was aimed at promoting equitable healthcare and independent living for persons with visual disabilities.
“Our government is committed to equitable healthcare and innovative solutions. To support independent living of persons with visual disabilities, we are focusing on introducing QR codes on medicine strips to provide essential drug information through smartphones,” Rao said.
The proposal follows the minister’s interaction with representatives of a Japanese company in Mysuru and is based on data collected from 500 visually impaired individuals across Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The study was conducted under the Initiative for Medication Practices and Accessibility through QR Code Technology for the Visually Impaired Persons (IMPACT-VIP) project, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
According to the report, the QR codes will include tactile indentations to help users locate and scan them. Once scanned, the codes will provide information including dosage, manufacturing date, expiry date and drug composition. Rao said many visually impaired users were already proficient smartphone users and could independently access medication information using the proposed system.
The department plans to submit the proposal to the central government for standardisation and potential national rollout. Officials said the initiative could also benefit elderly users, people with literacy or language barriers, and visually impaired pharmacists.