The Indian pharmaceutical sector is witnessing dynamic changes. Be it academia, industry or research, all which are linked to the pharmacy profession are making rapid changes in sync with the day- today needs and regulatory requirements.
And for making this
change a reality, continuous deliberations, discussions, presentations and decision need to happen, which is possible only because of mega events like IPC. Keeping this in view, this year, the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) is focusing on the theme ‘Quality Pharmaceuticals and Patient Welfare’.
The 68th edition of this national pharmaceutical event will be held at the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh from December 16-18, 2016 at the premises of the University College of Pharmaceuticals in Andhra University. This is for the first time that the beautiful beach city of Vizag is hosting this event.
For the 68th IPC , Dr. Rao Vadlamudi, President of Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), has been appointed as Chairman of Local Organizing Committee and Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is expected to take part as a Chief Patron. Apart from this, a galaxy of pharmacy professionals from across different segments of pharmacy profession has been appointed as patrons, co-patrons and members of advisory committee.
“We are glad to inform that Vizag, the beautiful beach city of Andhra Pradesh which is also ranked as India’s fifth cleanest city under Swatch Bharat Sarvekshan 2016, is hosting the 68th edition of IPC for the first time. As Vizag is regarded as the emerging pharmaceutical hub of Andhra Pradesh, this scientific event will definitely give it the impetus to accelerate the growth of pharmaceutical sector in the state,” informed Dr. Vadlamudi Rao.
In fact IPC is an apt platform for all stake holders of pharmaceutical professionals to converge and dwell on the developments and changes taking place in their profession.
Expressing his opinion about pharmacists, Dr. Rao said that pharmacists in India is no longer a mere dispenser of medicines, but is evolving as a counselor of medicine through effective management and leadership in health care delivery in the country. As mentioned in the theme, this year the congress is planning to deliberate and present an objective to the nation to project the role of the pharmacists not only as a manufacturers of quality pharmaceuticals but also as an ensurer of patient welfare by improving treatment outcomes through advanced pharmacy practice, thereby paving the path to the ‘Healthy India- Swasth Bharat’ by 2025. Keeping all this in view, this year IPC is planning to organize scientific sessions and deliberations which are thought provoking and help gain knowledge and experience to update the delegates.
“We are hoping this time the event will be a memorable one to all the pharmacy graduates and professionals relating to the industry,” said Vijaya Ratna, Chairman Press and Publicity for the 68th IPC.
The organizers are sparing no efforts to make this congress a unique one by introducing reforms in the conventional system of organizing the congress. Pharmexcil, Indian Drug Manufacturing Association (IDMA) and OPPI have also extended their support to the congress. “This time we are also planning an interactive scientific session and a placement conclave, where in the pharmacy professionals and the students in particular can benefit,” informed the Chairperson. A part from this, the 68th IPC is also going to have novel food court, which is a change planned during this congress
According to S.V. Veerramani, President of IPCA, this year’s theme is an extension of the previous year’s IPC theme ‘Pharma Vision 2020-Pharmacits for a Healthy India’. “Continuing with the same theme as last year, this year also we want the congress to focus on challenges faced by the Indian pharma industry in continuous production of quality pharmaceuticals in compliance with the global regulatory requirements and the role of a pharmacy professional in that process” , he informed.
The theme for the event is also aimed at addressing the role of pharmacists in continuous evaluation of the pharmaceuticals during their clinical use in assuring safety to the patients through pharmacovigilance and outcome evaluation studies and finally how the pharmacists could transform India from the position of a global pharmacy to an enviable position of the global wellness provider. “As pharmacists, we have the collective responsibility to focus on patient’s welfare while producing quality pharmaceuticals,” says Veerramani.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), along with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) which are the main patrons of IPA are making all the arrangements required to make the event unique and memorable for the pharmaceutical professionals across the country. Veerramani hopes that the scientific programme will address this year’s theme in all aspects and will be of utmost interest to professionals from the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory, academia, research, pharmacy practice and students .
The most important highlight of this year’s event is the IPC Expo 2016. For ensuring this show a success, IPC has partnered with ‘Orbit Exhibitions’.
This year’s event will have plenary lectures, symposia by eminent scientists, pharma expo, B2B sessions and placement conclave for students. The organisers said that the 68th edition will attract not just the pharma industry but regulatory authorities, academia, research, hospital and community pharmacy personnel.
The scientific service committee (SSC) having Dr A. Ramakishan, Convener IPC, Dr. Shailendra Saraf, and Pankaj Bector, Co-Conveners, SSC, IPC will be co-ordinating the scientific sessions and had invited presentation of papers on scientific findings in the field of pharmaceuticals. “We have invited original scientific work for presentation as part of our scientific sessions. The presenting author must be a member of any of the federating associations of IPCA and a registered delegate to 68th IPC, Vizag. The abstract should be submitted online and all queries related to abstract should be done through email only. The best paper from each session will be selected for oral presentation,” informed Dr. Ramakishan.
As part of IPCs objective of continuing education, the candidates who takes part in the IPC will be given a certificate of attendance. “Continued education is mandatory for all pharmacist and faculty for the purpose of continuing their professional responsibilities and registrations with the state pharmacy councils and IPC being an apt platform to gain knowledge, the participants will be given attendance certificates,” says Professor K.P.R. Chowdary, Chairman of Local Area Committee, Scientific Session committee.
In addition to Dr. Rao Vadlamudi, president, IPA, the core committee of the 68th IPC constitutes Dr. C Gopal Krishna Murty, past president and present advisory committee member, IPA; Subodh Priolkar, regional managing director, Colorcon Asia, and past president, IPA; Dr. JAS Giri, immediate past president, IPA; Dr. TV Narayana, chairman-Education Division, IPA and secretary, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association; Kaushik Desai, Honorary general secretary, IPA; Jaipal Reddy, Central Executive Council member, IPA and chairman, St. Peters Institute of Pharm. Sciences, Hanamkonda, Telangana; Dr. B Ganga Rao, principal, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vizag and president IPA Vizag Local Branch and TB Nair, coordinator of IPA.
Overall, during three-day IPC extravaganza, the city of Vizag will be witnessing high octane deliberations, discussions, presentations, pharma expo, placement conclaves and scientific sessions , designed to provide knowledge of new developments in the field of pharmaceuticals, which will help improve the pharmacy profession in the country at large.