Skip to main content
Bangladesh Healthcare Search

DGDA registration

What is the DAR number on a medicine pack?

The DAR number is the registration number a medicine product has in the DGDA registry. This guide explains what it identifies, how to use it to look a product up, and the limits of what it can tell you.

The short answer

A DAR number is the registration number of a medicine product in the registry kept by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). Each registered product has its own DAR number. It is printed on the pack, which lets you match the product with its registry entry.

How the registry uses DAR numbers

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) publishes the national DGDA drug registry as a code system and states that the data is owned by DGDA. In that code system, the identifier of each entry combines the DAR number with the trade (brand) name. The example given is:

  • 353-0026-039--marvelous-fe

The first part of that identifier is the DAR number and the last part is the brand name. Putting the two together gives every registered product a unique identifier.

What about the parts of the number?

In the registry example above, the DAR number appears as groups of digits separated by dashes. We have not found an official public source that explains what each group means, so we do not guess. Treat the DAR number as one complete code and always copy it in full, exactly as printed.

Using the DAR number to look up a product

  1. Find the DAR number printed on the pack and write it down, including the dashes.
  2. Open the verify page on this site and enter the number.
  3. Compare the result with the pack: brand name, generic name, strength, dosage form and manufacturer should all agree.

Look up a DAR number in the registry snapshot

Searching by DAR number is often more precise than searching by brand name, because many brands have similar names and one brand can come in several strengths and forms, each with its own entry.

What a DAR number does not tell you

  • It does not prove that a particular pack is genuine. A fake pack can copy a real DAR number.
  • A match on this site reflects a dated snapshot of the registry, not the registration status today.
  • It says nothing about what a medicine is for or whether it is right for you.

For the official, current status of a registration, go to DGDA's website, dgda.gov.bd. Type the address into your browser yourself.

How to check if a medicine is DGDA-registered

How to read a medicine pack

If a DAR number is missing, unreadable or does not match, show the pack to a registered pharmacist before using the medicine, and ask a registered doctor or pharmacist about any health question.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DAR number the same as the batch number?
No. The DAR number identifies the registered product. A batch number is a separate code that identifies one production lot of a product.
What do the different parts of a DAR number mean?
We have not found an official public source that explains them, so we do not describe them. Use the whole number, exactly as printed.
Can two products share the same DAR number?
In the DGDA registry code system, each entry's identifier combines the DAR number with the brand name, so always check the brand name as well as the number.
Does a valid DAR number mean the medicine is genuine?
No. It shows a product with that number was registered. A fake pack can copy a real number. If in doubt, ask a registered pharmacist and check with DGDA.

This guide is general information only and is not medical advice. It does not tell you what any medicine is for or how to take it. For questions about your health or your medicines, ask a registered doctor or pharmacist.

Sources

Related guides

All guides