Braille cards to be included in pharmaceutical packaging
India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is considering a proposal for Braille labelling on pharmaceutical packaging to increase accessibility for the 4.95 million blind inhabitants and 70 million visually impaired individuals in India.
25 Jun 2025 | By Jiya Somaiya
Braille cards may be included in secondary packaging that holds more than ten medication units
On 17 June, a committee of the CDSCO, the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), held its 66th meeting. As per the report released by the DCC on 24 June, the committee is considering a proposal to address the issue of individuals with blindness and visual impairment accessing information on pharmaceutical tablets and capsule strips.
The proposal was discussed during the 58th DCC meeting, and following the discussion, the DCC suggested creating a subcommittee to further examine the proposal.
As per the recommendations proposed by the subcommittee, Braille cards may be included in secondary packaging that holds more than ten medication units for distribution to this demographic as needed, and voice assistance can be connected to a QR code on medications.
The addition of Braille labelling in pharmaceutical packaging will aid in combating counterfeit drugs. A 2025 study published by the Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice on the challenge of counterfeit drugs in the Indian market stated estimates that between 12% and 25% of all medications provided in India are counterfeit. According to the health ministry, 5% of Indian pharmaceuticals are counterfeit, and 0.3% are fake.