E-DRUG: News from India, world pharmacopoeias and WHO
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New Delhi hosts the Second International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias
Focus on convergence of standards to expand access to medicines
New Delhi, 18 April 2013: Achieving global standards to expand access to medicines in developing countries is key to the deliberative agenda of the Second International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias being held in New Delhi on 18-19 April 2013. The two-day meeting is being co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Numerous WHO Member States' pharmacopoeias worldwide are attending this meeting and deliberating on important issues of common interest, including the follow-up of the recommendations expressed during the First International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias. During the meeting, a revised draft of a new guideline on good pharmacopoeial practices (GPhP) will also be taken up for consideration by the participating pharmacopoeias.
"Good pharmacopoeial practices should facilitate exchange of analytical methods and information on reference standards between pharmacopoeias and ultimately enable prospective harmonization of monographs and analytical methods", said Mr Keshvav Desiraju, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India said, "The development of norms, standards and guidelines for the quality assurance and quality control of pharmaceuticals is a very important task. WHO aims to ensure that all essential medicines, including those used in treating large populations, meet comparable standards of quality, safety and efficacy."
Welcoming the delegates, Dr G.N. Singh, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission said, "This important meeting gives a unique opportunity to bring together the best expertise and knowledge from around the globe on matters related to good pharmacopoeial practices and harmonization among pharmacopoeias."
Dr Lembit Rägo, Team Coordinator, Quality Assurance & Safety: Medicines, WHO, felt that this meeting would unleash the momentum for greater collaborative work and sharing of information between world pharmacopoeias. "We have been working together towards harmonization and strengthening WHO's role when developing global standards for the production and testing of medicines," he added.
Outlining the vision for this forum, Dr Sabine Kopp, Manager, Medicines Quality Assurance Programme, WHO, said, "These new synergies will increase harmonization, reduce potential duplication and foremost will enhance international efforts, to enable patients to be treated with safe quality medicines, all around the world."
The outcome of this meeting would ultimately benefit patients through collaboration among world pharmacopoeias. Its recommendations will be presented to the WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations, which advises the Director-General, WHO and WHO's Member States, on future perspectives and strategic approaches in relation to pharmacopoeias.
Related links:
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The 2nd International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeia meeting, New Delhi, India, 18-19 April 2013
http://www.wpm2013india.com/
The 1st World Pharmacopoeia meeting <http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/quality_assurance/resources/qas_worldpharmmeeting/en/index.html>
"The International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias, Geneva, Switzerland, 28 February -1 March 2012:
http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/quality_assurance/resources/qas_worldpharmmeeting/en/index.html
The International Pharmacopoeia: http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/pharmacopoeia/overview/en/index.html
Quality assurance of medicines: http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/quality_assurance/en/index.html
Sabine Kopp
Dr Sabine Kopp
Manager
Medicines Quality Assurance Programme
Quality Assurance & Safety: Medicines
World Health Organization
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