The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has entered into key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Goa State Pharmacy Council (GSPC), the Quality Council of India (QCI), and HLL Infra Tech Services Limited (HITES). These collaborations mark an important step towards strengthening drug safety systems, quality assurance mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives across the country.
The MoU between IPC and the Goa State Pharmacy Council establishes a structured framework for cooperation in pharmacovigilance, rational use of medicines, and professional development of pharmacists in Goa. Under this agreement, both institutions will work together to promote the National Formulary of India among registered pharmacists and strengthen adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting under the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). The collaboration also includes organising training programmes, workshops, and continuing education activities, along with awareness initiatives on drug safety, pharmacopoeial standards, and sustainable pharmacopoeia practices. Additionally, the MoU aims to support the establishment and strengthening of ADR Monitoring Centres and improve systematic reporting and documentation practices across healthcare facilities in the state.
In a separate MoU, IPC and the Quality Council of India have agreed to collaborate on initiatives related to quality promotion, public health awareness, and capacity building. The partnership will focus on joint planning and implementation of training and awareness programmes, particularly in the field of pharmacovigilance and related areas. Both organisations will leverage their institutional expertise and technical resources to develop collaborative projects aligned with national quality and safety objectives. The MoU provides a flexible, non-binding framework, enabling project-based cooperation through mutually agreed work orders.
IPC is also continuing its efforts to build partnerships with regulatory bodies, professional councils, quality organisations, and public sector enterprises to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems, enhance professional competencies, and promote uniform standards for medicine quality and patient safety nationwide.
Addressing the gathering during the MoU signing ceremony, Joint Secretary, MoHFW, Shri Harsh Mangla emphasized the critical role of the regulatory sector in effective implementation of primary and secondary healthcare. He congratulated Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, IPC, and representatives of GSPC and QCI, describing the MoUs as an important beginning for institutional collaboration. Shri Mangla stressed that such agreements should not remain symbolic but must translate into meaningful outcomes. He highlighted that IPC has already signed four MoUs, reflecting its sustained commitment to regulatory and professional cooperation. He further underscored the need for heightened awareness among pharmacists to ensure patient safety and quality healthcare delivery, adding that the Government of India continues to support the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors through policy initiatives, regulatory reforms, and capacity-building programmes.
