Pharmacopeia Commission Signed MoU with Industry Bodies

Ø  IPC Signs MoUs with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India and National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education & Research, Hajipur, to Promote Drug Quality, Research, and Patient Safety

Ø  IPC–PMBI Partnership to Transform Quality Assurance, Strengthen Pharmacovigilance, and Institutionalize Rational Drug Use Across Jan Aushadhi Kendras Nationwide

Ø  IPC–NIPER Hajipur MoU to Advance Pharmaceutical Research, Strengthen Pharmacopoeial Standards, and Enhance Safety of Biologics and Emerging Therapies

Key Highlights

1. IPC–PMBI Partnership for Drug Quality and Patient Safety

·         Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission signed an MoU with Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India to strengthen quality assurance for medicines sold through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs).

·         Key focus areas include:

o    Random batch testing of Jan Aushadhi medicines by IPC

o    Promotion of the National Formulary of India (NFI) for rational drug use

o    Strengthening pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting

o    Display of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) QR code and helpline across Jan Aushadhi Kendras

o    Joint training and awareness programs for pharmacists and stakeholders

2. IPC–NIPER Hajipur Collaboration for Advanced Research

·         IPC also signed an MoU with National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Hajipur to advance pharmaceutical science and safety standards.

·         Collaboration will support:

o    Research on impurity profiling, including nitrosamines

o    Development of standards for biologics, biosimilars, cell and gene therapies

o    Analytical methods, quality control protocols and reference standards for the Indian Pharmacopoeia

o    Academic exchange, internships, fellowships and joint scientific publications

3. Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

·         Both MoUs include:

o    Training programmes, workshops and conferences

o    Faculty exchange initiatives

o    Shared use of advanced analytical instrumentation facilities

o    Collaborative research and capacity-building efforts

Strategic Significance

·         Strengthens drug quality assurance, rational medicine use, and patient safety nationwide.

·         Supports innovation in pharmacopoeial science and emerging therapies.

Overall Message

The twin MoUs mark a significant step toward stronger medicine quality oversight, deeper pharmaceutical research, and enhanced patient safety, while supporting India’s broader public health and pharma innovation goals.

 

[ABS News Service/25.04.2026]

Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India continues to strengthen its commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare and advancing pharmaceutical excellence through strategic institutional collaborations. In line with this vision, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, signed two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, Bihar, an autonomous institution under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.

The MoU between IPC and PMBI aims to enhance the quality assurance framework for medicines made available through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs). Under this collaboration, PMBI may submit randomly selected batches of Jan Aushadhi medicines to IPC for quality testing. The partnership will further promote the use of the National Formulary of India (NFI) across Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to ensure rational use of medicines. It also seeks to strengthen pharmacovigilance activities by displaying the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) QR code and toll-free helpline number (1800-180-3024) at PMBJKs across the country, thereby encouraging adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting and improving patient safety. In addition, IPC and PMBI will jointly organize sensitization, awareness, and training programmes for pharmacists and stakeholders on rational use of medicines, pharmacovigilance, ADR reporting tools, and the role of pharmacists in safeguarding public health.

The MoU signed between IPC and NIPER, Hajipur focuses on collaborative research, academic exchange, and capacity building in the area of pharmaceutical science and healthcare products. NIPER Hajipur, an Institute of National Importance, possesses advanced expertise in pharmaceutical analysis, biologics, and clinical research, making it a valuable partner in strengthening pharmacopoeial science and patient safety. This collaboration will include joint research programmes on impurity profiling, including genotoxic impurities such as nitrosamines, and their correlation with adverse drug reaction data to establish evidence-based pharmacopoeial limits. It will also focus on the development of analytical methods, quality control protocols, and reference standards for biologics, biosimilars, and emerging cell and gene therapy products for inclusion in the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

Both institutions will also collaborate in organizing training programmes, workshops, seminars, and conferences, along with faculty exchange initiatives and sharing of advanced analytical instrumentation facilities. Internship and fellowship opportunities for pharmacy graduates and postgraduates, as well as joint publication of research papers, training manuals, and educational materials, will further strengthen scientific engagement and institutional capacity building.

These MoUs reflect IPC’s continued efforts to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem by promoting quality assurance, patient safety, rational use of medicines, and innovation in pharmaceutical standards. Such collaborations will further reinforce India’s position as a global leader in pharmaceutical quality, regulatory excellence, and public health advancement.