 The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has apprised the Karnataka FDA about the practical challenges in implementing the FDA’s geo-tagging application.
In a communication to the state FDA and the government, the Association noted that even as implementation of geo-tagging 2.0 within the NIC-Powered XLN Licensing Digital Portal ensures a robust, transparent, and accountable regulatory system, there is a need for an upgraded version of the framework.
B Thirunavukkarasu, president, BDCDA said, “We reviewed the Registered Medical Store Android Application introduced for the geo-tagging exercise and noted few operational issues which require attention. These are persistent system errors and backend data inconsistencies particularly when fetching the Firm Details with Registered Mobile Number or updating the registered mobile number, often displaying messages such as mobile number not registered or Firm ID not found. These issues appear to result from incorrect entries in the backend database, creating difficulties in completing the geo-tagging process.”
Also, the application presently requires broad storage permissions for images and videos, which raises concerns among license holders regarding data privacy and device access. Restricting permissions only to camera access for capturing geo-tagged photographs would enhance transparency and user confidence, he added.
Going by the experience in pharmacy trade operations, BDCDA recommends an upgraded framework. The XLN Licensing Digital Portal, developed by NIC, is already a secure platform supported by OTP-based authentication and maintained under the full administrative control of the State FDA. It is therefore proposed that geo-tagging 2.0 be integrated directly within the XLN portal through a simple click-of-a-button verification system, rather than through a separate stand-alone application. This is possible through minor technical enhancements within the existing XLN architecture, said Thirunavukkarasu.
There is a need for expansion of geo-tagging across the supply chain. Mapping these operational nodes will assist regulators in monitoring the movement of medicines more effectively, thereby strengthening enforcement against diversion, illegal stock movement, and counterfeit circulation, while supporting coordination with government intelligence and enforcement agencies. Instances of medicine infiltration through inter-state and intra-state channels involving unauthorised wholesale entities have been observed. If geo-tagging is intended to strengthen regulatory transparency, the mechanism should be extended beyond retail medical stores, said the BDCDA president.
Every geo-tagging entry should be supported by a secure digital audit trail, including time stamped verification records, device authentication, digital acknowledgement by the license holder, and backend validation within the XLN database. Such safeguards ensure regulatory decisions rely on authentic, verifiable, and tamper-proof digital records, strengthening the credibility of the system, he noted.
Enforcement officials need to be equipped with handheld digital devices to access real-time licence data from the XLN system, digitally record inspection findings, capture geo-verified inspection locations, and upload compliance observations directly to the central database. This reduces administrative delays, eliminates manual paperwork, ensuring inspection records remain secure within the digital system, he said.
Further, BDCDA proposes biometric authentication during inspections to verify presence of the license holder or authorised pharmacist, and inspection acknowledgements authenticated in real-time. This ensures that regulatory records carry clear authenticity and accountability, thereby reducing disputes relating to inspection documentation, he said.
To strengthen transparency and public confidence, the department may consider introducing body-worn AI-enabled cameras during inspections to record inspection proceedings, protect both enforcement officials and license holders from misunderstandings and prevent corruption, and maintain a secure digital record of regulatory interactions. With Karnataka recognised as a progressive State in digital administration, the successful implementation of geo-tagging 2.0 can position it as a national example of transparent and technology-driven pharmaceutical regulation, said the BDCDA president.
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