The 10-day International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) - World Congress 2015 has begun on a thumping note at Marriot Convention Centre in Hyderabad.
Hosting the 61st IPSF World Congress for the first time in India, the organisers from Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) and Indian Pharmaceutical Association-Student Federation (IPA-SF), in collaboration with industry, academia and the government agencies, have come on one platform to make this event a memorable one.
IPA, the Indian pharmaceutical Association, is the parent body of Indian Pharmaceutical Association-Student Federation (IPA-SF) has played a key role in providing the entire logistics to the 61st Congress. The IPA is headed by president, Dr Rao Vadlamudi, and its education division is headed by Dr T V Narayana. In addition this, Dr T B Nair and Jaipall Reddy are the members of core team.
“We are privileged to host this prestigious international event for the first time in India. With a well established pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Hyderabad is of course a favourable destination. About 350 foreign pharmacy students from 55 countries across the globe are taking part in this pharmaceutical professional extravaganza. In fact, we can say IPSF is sort of an ‘Olympics’ for pharmacy professionals and we are glad that we got an opportunity to host it in Hyderabad,” opined S.V. Krishna Prasad, chief executive officer and managing director of Cito Healthcare, one of the key organisers of the event.
Spread across 10 days, from July 31 to August 9, 2015, the event is going to witness a host of works shops and two important symposiums on education and scientific innovations apart from other activities.
Altogether, about 500 students from 6 continents are taking part in this international event. While throwing light on the Indian pharmacy education system, Dr.B.Suresh, president of Pharmacy Council of India said, “India has different set up of pharmacy education system. The system is designed to meet the requirements of local, national and international needs. One can join a two-year diploma course in pharmacy soon after schooling or can join a bachelor’s degree course after 10+2. We also have a system of 6 year integrated PG and post doctoral courses. Indian curriculum is well designed and accepted globally as there are many Indian pharmacy professionals serving at the global level. Of course there are also many challenges and gaps to be filled to make it a more structured and well regulated one. I am sure, international forums like this will help us in sharing knowledge and enable us learn more in improving our systems.”
Despite challenges, the pharmacy education is well matured in the country. There are one million registered pharmacists graduated from across 1500 pharmacy colleges. Every year about one lakh pharmacy students are graduated in the country, informed Dr. Suresh.
Taking part as a chief guest of the event, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, minister for IT and Industries, Telangana, welcomed the international students for becoming part of this global event. Hailing Hyderabad’s achievements in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, he said, “About 1/3rd of global vaccines are manufactured in Hyderabad. Hyderabad is already an established bulk drug hub of the country and about 40 per cent of country’s pharmaceutical products are manufactured in Hyderabad.”
He said that the state government is taking all measures to ensure the pharma industry further thrives, for which the state government has evolved a new pharma policy and the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has already earmarked 11,000 acres of land for special pharma city and also encouraging the medical device manufacturing sector for which the government has already catered 50 acres of land in Medak district.