Mehfooz Dawa says “Not verified”: what it means and what to do
"Not verified" means DRAP's system could not find a record that matches this exact pack. That is a reason to stop and check, not proof that the medicine is fake. In most cases you can find out which it is in about a minute.
Rule out a bad scan first
- Compare the four detailsThe result shows the GTIN, batch, serial and expiry it read. Check each one against the text printed beside the square code. A single wrong character will fail the check.
- Scan again in better lightGlare from the plastic coating is the most common cause of misreads. Tilt the box and move to brighter light.
- Type the detailsIf the camera keeps misreading, use Type code on the scanner and enter the four details yourself.
Six reasons a genuine pack can fail
| Reason | How to tell |
|---|---|
| Misread code | The details in the result differ from the printed ones. |
| Typing mistake | Zero and letter O, or one and letter I, swapped. |
| Data not uploaded yet | The maker has started printing codes but has not yet uploaded that batch. |
| Older stock | Manufacturing date before the maker joined the programme. |
| System delay or outage | Other packs fail too, or the check times out. |
| Imported product labelling | A foreign code on an imported pack that has not been linked locally. |
When "not verified" is a real warning
Treat the pack as suspicious if the details match exactly and it still fails, and any of these apply:
- Other packs of the same medicine from another pharmacy verify fine.
- The price was much lower than usual.
- The print, seal or tablets look different from your last pack.
- The batch appears in a DRAP recall alert.
- You see the same serial number on more than one box.
Fakes do turn up. DRAP alerts in 2026 alone include tablets labelled as a 500 mg antibiotic that contained 0.00 mg of the active ingredient on testing.
What to do
Do not take it. Ask the pharmacy for a pack from a different batch, keep the suspicious one with its receipt, and report it to DRAP. If you need the medicine urgently, ask your doctor or pharmacist for a safe alternative rather than taking a pack you doubt.
Questions people ask
Does "Not verified" mean the medicine is fake?
No. It means DRAP's system could not match the pack. A misread code, a typo, or a batch that the manufacturer has not uploaded yet can all cause it. It does mean you should not take the medicine until you have checked further.
I scanned the same box twice and got different results. Why?
Usually because the first scan misread a character, or the connection to DRAP timed out. Compare the GTIN, batch, serial and expiry shown in the result with what is printed on the box. If they match and the second result is verified, the first was a read error.
The pharmacy says all their stock shows "not verified". Is that normal?
During the rollout, some manufacturers and older stock are not yet in the system. Ask the pharmacist to check another batch of the same medicine. A pharmacy that cannot show any verified pack for a common brand deserves a second look.
Have a pack in hand? Scan it now. It takes under a minute and needs no app.