Experts and stakeholders will deliberate on the need for creating a single regulatory framework for the entire pharmaceutical sector and get a dedicated Ministry of Pharmaceuticals as the umbrella body, at the India Pharma Convention 2012 to be held here on February 12.

The convention, on the theme of 'challenges and issues in pharmaceutical sector in India', will have participants from industry, government, academic circles and pharmacy students to discuss wide ranging issues affecting the sector, said convention convenor Amitav Joyprakash Choudhury.

The convention is being organised by Udyog Development Foundation at the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DISAR) with a view to bring together the experts and policy makers to highlight the multiple problems in the sector.

“At present, there is a lot of confusion and overlapping by different ministries and departments on the matters related to pharmaceuticals, creating persistent difficulties for the industry. The only option is to have single body for all matters related to pharma and drugs and make the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) into a full-fledged ministry. DCGI, NPPA, NIPER, Pharmexcil, IPC, PCI etc should be brought under the same agency for effective coordination,” he said.

The focus of the meet will also be on issues like inclusion of pharmacy subjects in civil service examination, making a single regulatory council for pharmacy education, recruitment reforms for pharmacy graduates, special policy for revival of small and medium scale pharmaceutical units, setting up of a NIPER in the national capital on the lines of IIT, and formation of a national pharmaceutical policy, he said.

The convention will have sessions on challenges and issues in pharmaceutical education, challenges in drug regulation and herbal industry. Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) president Prof B Suresh, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission secretary Dr G N Singh, AYUSH department advisor Dr S K Sharma, NIPER director Dr K K Bhutani, drug controllers, senior officials and industry experts will take in the scientific sessions.