Ranchi: Jharkhand is set to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital portal to monitor the sale, purchase and distribution of medicines, particularly those frequently misused as intoxicants.
Developed jointly by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Jharkhand, and the state Drug Control Department, the portal is designed to track the entire medicine supply chain, from manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies and patients, while generating alerts about suspicious transactions and unusually large purchases.
The development of the portal has been completed, and preparations for its launch are underway. A meeting to review the portal’s functionality and utility was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Ajoy Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare.
During the meeting, officials of the Drug Control Department gave a detailed presentation on its technical features, monitoring mechanism and proposed implementation. The department informed the meeting that the portal is the first of its kind in the country, specifically developed to monitor the misuse of medicines.
Once operational, it will enable authorities to digitally track medicine-related transactions across the state and identify suspicious patterns in their sale and distribution.
One of the key features of the portal will be its ability to trace the quantity and type of medicines supplied by a manufacturer or distributor to a particular pharmacy. If unusually large quantities of certain medicines are purchased or sold, the system will generate alerts, enabling the Drug Control Department to investigate the transactions and take appropriate action against those involved.
The platform will also provide an opportunity for ordinary citizens to register complaints regarding the misuse, illegal sale or distribution of medicines. On receiving complaints, the department will be able to initiate investigations and take action in accordance with the applicable rules.
Besides monitoring medicine transactions, the portal will also facilitate scrutiny of drug quality and misleading advertisements. Claims by individuals or organisations that particular medicines can cure serious illnesses will be examined, and action will be initiated if such claims are found to be false or misleading.
Officials said the portal has also been developed with provisions that would allow drug control departments and relevant agencies in other states to use the platform, potentially expanding its application beyond Jharkhand.
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