In a landmark step toward digitization and regulatory transparency, JBRSOFT has successfully implemented interoperability between the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh (PCB) Automation System and the Automated Drug License Registration System (ADLRS) of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). This integration has modernized the pharmaceutical licensing landscape in Bangladesh, ensuring a faster, safer, and more efficient process for all stakeholders — especially pharmacy owners and licensed professionals.
The PCB, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, plays a pivotal role in regulating pharmacy education and professional practice across the country. Established under the Pharmacy Act 2013 (formerly the Pharmacy Ordinance 1976), PCB is responsible for accrediting institutions, approving curricula and training standards, conducting examinations, and issuing registration certificates to pharmacists (Grades A, B, and C). With its commitment to maintaining excellence in pharmaceutical services across academia, industry, and healthcare settings, PCB ensures that pharmacy practice in Bangladesh meets national and global standards.
This success story is more than just a tale of two systems talking to each other. It marks a transformative shift in how government agencies collaborate through technology to foster efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance regulatory governance in the health sector. For years, pharmacy owners and professionals faced delays and manual hurdles when applying for drug licenses, as verification of pharmacists’ credentials required physical documentation and coordination between DGDA and PCB. Now, this once fragmented and cumbersome process has evolved into a seamless, automated, and real-time verification mechanism, setting a new benchmark for digital public service delivery in Bangladesh.
In the following sections, we will explore how this interoperability is benefiting the nation at large from accelerating drug license approvals to reducing administrative burdens and enhancing trust in regulatory processes. This initiative not only reflects the growing momentum for e-governance but also serves as a scalable model for future digital health transformations.
The Challenge
Previously, pharmacy owners applying for a drug license had to undergo a time-consuming and often manual process to verify the credentials of their registered pharmacists with PCB. This verification required physical documentation, coordination between multiple government agencies, and significant delays in approval.
The Innovation: Seamless Digital Verification
Today, with the interoperability module designed and implemented by JBRSOFT, this bottleneck has been eliminated. Now, when a pharmacy owner applies for a drug license through the DGDA’s ADLRS platform, the system automatically communicates via Application Programming Interface (API) with PCB’s database in real time to verify the pharmacist’s registration number and professional status.
This automatic verification is instantaneous, accurate, and tamper-proof. It eliminates the need for manual document submission and cross-verification, reduces fraud, and ensures that only authorized pharmacists are associated with licensed pharmacies. This interoperability module officially launched in 2022 stands as a milestone in Bangladesh’s journey toward digital health governance and regulatory modernization.
Key Benefits for Pharmacy Owners and Professionals
Faster Drug License Approval
- The verification process that once took days now happens in seconds.
- Reduces the overall timeline for drug license approval, helping businesses start operations sooner.
Improved Transparency & Regulatory Compliance
- Assures the DGDA that every application is linked to a genuinely registered pharmacist.
- Builds trust in the regulatory process and ensures compliance with national standards.
Minimized Paperwork and Physical Visits
- Reduces administrative burdens by removing redundant documentation.
- Saves applicants time, travel costs, and follow-up efforts.
Enhanced Accessibility and User Experience
- Pharmacy professionals can access and track their verification status digitally.
- Real-time updates and notifications make the process user-friendly and transparent.
Extending the Vision: A Unified Digital Health Ecosystem
This interoperability lays the foundation for a more connected pharmaceutical ecosystem in Bangladesh. Future enhancements could include:
- Integrated renewal systems: Where pharmacists and pharmacy licenses are automatically cross-verified during renewal.
- Compliance monitoring dashboards: For both DGDA and PCB to track licensing patterns and identify compliance risks.
- Mobile verification apps: For field inspectors to instantly validate pharmacy licenses and pharmacist registrations on-site.
- Automated alerts and reminders: For expiring licenses and registration renewals, ensuring continuous compliance.
Driving National Health and Business Excellence
This successful collaboration between DGDA, PCB, and JBRSOFT—supported by Management Sciences for Health (MSH)—demonstrates how smart technology can strengthen governance and support private sector growth. Pharmacy owners now enjoy a streamlined process, while regulators gain confidence in the integrity of the system.
For pharmacy professionals, this integration protects their credentials and ensures recognition of their role in safeguarding public health. For business owners, it minimizes operational delays and creates a more predictable path to market entry.
In short, this is more than a tech upgrade — it’s a step toward a more transparent, efficient, and professional pharmaceutical sector in Bangladesh.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Better Health in Bangladesh project, #MSH for partnering with us as a technology solutions provider in this impactful journey. We also deeply appreciate the steadfast support from the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh (#PCB) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (#DGDA), whose collaboration was instrumental in the successful design and implementation of this landmark interoperability initiative.
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