E-DRUG: Members of Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PICs)
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Dear colleagues,
I was looking at the PIC/S website, and could not help noticing that on the list of members of PIC/S, only South Africa is a member on the African continent; in South America, only Argentina is a member. In consulting colleagues at regulatory institutions, I note that all are aware of PIC/S and support this initiative. Is there a reason why practically all countries in Africa and South America are not signed-up members of PIC/S? The picture is the same for Middle East, all the way to Japan.
Kindly see: https://www.picscheme.org/en/members.
I note that that there are a handful of pre- applicants and applicants currently listed; please see
https://www.picscheme.org/en/accession-procedure
While membership is certainly voluntary, is there some other strategy that can compel more countries to at least be joined up, so that they can make use of this initiative more firmly? Particularly for those countries that have strongly invested in strengthening their regulatory infrastructure. something like an 'Associate' member of PIC/S might encourage them to continue strengthening their institutions and operations.
Regards,
Bonnie
Bonface Fundafunda PhD., MBA., B.Pharm
Zambia
BONFACE FUNDAFUNDA <bcfunda@hotmail.com>