The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has signed two key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Hajipur to strengthen drug quality, research, and patient safety in India.
The MoU with PMBI focuses on enhancing quality assurance of medicines distributed through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs). Under this collaboration, randomly selected batches of Jan Aushadhi medicines may be tested by IPC to ensure quality standards. The partnership will also promote the use of the National Formulary of India (NFI) for rational drug usage and strengthen pharmacovigilance efforts by encouraging adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting through awareness initiatives, QR codes, and helpline support.
Additionally, both IPC and PMBI will jointly conduct training and awareness programmes for pharmacists and stakeholders, focusing on rational medicine use, pharmacovigilance, and public health safety.
The MoU with NIPER Hajipur aims to advance collaborative research, academic exchange, and capacity building in pharmaceutical sciences. The partnership will support research in areas such as impurity profiling, including genotoxic impurities like nitrosamines, and their linkage with ADR data to develop evidence-based pharmacopoeial standards.
It will also focus on developing analytical methods, quality control protocols, and reference standards for biologics, biosimilars, and emerging therapies such as cell and gene-based treatments for inclusion in the Indian Pharmacopoeia.
Both collaborations will involve joint training programmes, workshops, faculty exchange, and shared use of advanced research infrastructure. Internship and fellowship opportunities, along with joint publications, are also part of the initiative.
These MoUs highlight IPC’s efforts to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem by promoting quality assurance, innovation, and patient safety, while reinforcing the country’s position in global pharmaceutical standards.