India Hosts 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias, Reaffirms Commitment to Global Pharmaceutical Standards

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, delivered the keynote address at the 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias (IMWP), marking a significant milestone in global pharmaceutical collaboration. Hosted by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the event brought together leading pharmacopoeial experts, regulatory authorities, and industry stakeholders to discuss pharmaceutical standardization and regulatory harmonization.

In her address, Patel underscored India’s role as the “Pharmacy of the World” and reiterated the country’s commitment to ensuring high-quality medicines for global health security. She emphasized that the IMWP serves as a crucial platform for fostering international cooperation in pharmacopoeial science, ensuring access to safe and effective medicines worldwide.

During the event, the Union Minister released the IPC Newsletter 2024 and a special video film highlighting India’s advancements in pharmacopoeial science and the Commission’s efforts in upholding pharmaceutical standards. The video can be accessed at this link.

Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, stressed the importance of global partnerships in strengthening pharmaceutical quality standards and aligning regulatory frameworks with international best practices.

Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, IPC, and Drugs Controller General (India), highlighted IPC’s contributions to setting global benchmarks in pharmacopoeial science. He discussed initiatives like the IP Online platform, which enhances accessibility and usability of Indian Pharmacopoeia standards, and the significance of scientific advancements in shaping global pharmaceutical regulations.

Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, praised India’s leadership in pharmacopoeial standard-setting and highlighted the critical role of regulatory harmonization in ensuring public health and patient safety.

The 15th IMWP is focused on key discussions, including progress on previous recommendations, emerging issues in impurity assessment, the development of the IMWP Charter for long-term governance, and fostering collaboration among global pharmacopoeias and regulatory bodies. Other topics on the agenda include the integration of environmental sustainability in pharmaceutical practices and finalizing reports for the upcoming IMWP sessions.

The conference, which runs until February 7, 2025, is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening global pharmacopoeial cooperation, ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines, and reinforcing India’s position as a leader in pharmaceutical innovation and regulatory excellence.