E-DRUG: Follow up on Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PICs)
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Dear colleagues,
A couple of months ago, I raised the question about the absence of a great number of African countries on the Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PICs) framework.
So far as I can tell, there has been no response from the PIC/S secretariat.
I take note of the fact that the PICS/S framework has support services to many developing country NRAs (capacity building, etc). The PIC/S terms and conditions, however, suggests that for a country to ascend to membership, that country’s NRA infrastructure must be of the same set up and caliber, as an existing member of the PIC/S system. Clearly this is beyond the reach of many developing countries, and suggests that the bar has been set too high. Might there not be a meeting of commitments, enable countries to join up because they are investing heavily in their NRA, they have the laws in place, etc, so that it makes sense to refer to and support PIC/S?
I am also aware that while many developing countries apparently support the PIC/S system, some countries have set up their own NRA groups (eg, ZAZIBONA- Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia) that have the same aspirations as PIC/S. And, notwithstanding the importance of PIC/S, may be this is a good thing, too, as together these countries are moving forward at a pace that national commitments and financing can tolerate towards investment in their NRA activities, even as urgent these services are.
Regards,
Bonnie
Bonface Fundafunda PhD., MBA., B.Pharm
Zambia: +260 973 315 052
Sudan: +249 99 448 6609 (Nov/Dec 2017)
BONFACE FUNDAFUNDA <bcfunda@hotmail.com>