Since 2016, expensive drugs in Russia are marked with a data-matrix code on the packaging. We built mobile apps to scan these codes and check whether the drug is genuine or counterfeit. The project was commissioned by the Federal Tax Service and Roszdravnadzor (the Russian Healthcare Supervisory Agency).
How it works
You open the app, point your camera at the data-matrix code on a drug package, and get an instant result: verified or suspicious. The app hits a government database in real time, pulls the drug's metadata — name, manufacturer, expiration date, serial number — and tells you if something doesn't add up.
Check history and manual input
Every scan is saved in a history tab, so inspectors can review their checks later. If the code is damaged or unreadable, there's a manual input mode where you type in the control mark number directly from the package.
Reporting violations
When a check fails — wrong serial number, expired product, unregistered manufacturer — the app lets you report the violation right there. One tap sends the data to the supervisory authority. This was a real tool for field inspectors who walk into pharmacies and check what's on the shelves.
The project ran during the early days of Russia's mandatory drug marking system. We were essentially building the first line of defense against counterfeit pharmaceuticals.