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The Government plans to launch a consultation on mandating the use of 2D barcodes on all medicine packs, health minister Zubir Ahmed has said. 

Addressing a medicines supply chain event hosted by the Company Chemists’ Association in parliament last week, Mr Ahmed said: “A recent Lords inquiry highlighted strong interest in the potential of 2D barcoding to improve stock management and increase visibility across the supply chain. 

“We are actively considering how this technology could play a role in strengthening supply resilience.

“The government, therefore, intends in due course to consult on the types and use of barcodes that will be required on the medicines packaging.”

He added: “Digitisation… in a complex supply chain needs to be proportionate and targeted and focused, but I think there is potential for it to add genuine value here.”

Since the implementation of the Windsor Framework arrangements in January 2025, the use of 2D barcodes on UK-only packs is at the discretion of manufacturers.

Mr Ahmed, a Glasgow-based vascular surgeon before entering parliament in 2024, said he “didn't quite appreciate the intricacies [of the supply chain] until I came into this job”.

The minister said medicine shortages are caused by a number of factors, adding that the US-Iran conflict “has not caused shortages of medicines to date” but has “impacted on global shipping prices alongside the potential to affect access to raw materials involved in the production of medicines and medical technologies”.

Commenting on Labour’s efforts to limit the impact of shortages, he said the Government “has early visibility now of potential risks, enabling rapid and proportionate intervention” and can “anticipate many of those supply issues well before patients are affected by the bedside or in their homes”.

And addressing the pharmaceutical sector’s criticisms of the UK’s approach to drugs pricing, he acknowledged that “economics also matters”. 

Mr Ahmed said: “The UK rightly takes pride in achieving some of the lowest medicines prices internationally, but I also appreciate this is a challenge.”

“Our approach is focused on properly valuing medicines according to the benefits they deliver to patients and health systems while supporting strong market competition.

“That is why we are committed to ensuring the United Kingdom remains a viable and attractive market for medicines, consistent with our life sciences central plan and life sciences strategy.

“Through that plan, the government is backing growth with £2bn of funding over this current three-year spending review period, including targeted investment to support innovative medicines manufacturing. ”