Manipal University has not hosted anything as big as the 62nd edition of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) beginning here today. Close to 10,000 delegates from all over the country and some from abroad are expected to participate in the three-day event. Over 2,000 of them have already arrived in the education township.

Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, hosts for the event this year, is all set for the big event. Chief Coordinator and Principal of MCOPS, Dr N Udupa said that the preparations were almost over and, “We are just waiting for the event to get underway today at 5.30 pm at KMC Greens”.

Dr V S Acharya, higher education minister of the state will inaugurate the Congress. Some of the other dignitaries who will be present as guests of honour for the inaugural function are; Dr B Suresh, vice chancellor, JSS University, Mysore who is also the president Pharmacy Council of India and entrepreneur Dr B R Shetty of Neopharma, Abu Dhabi.

Some of the delegates are alumni of MCOPS. They met this morning at Fortune Inn Valley View and set the tone for the mega event. Dr BR Shetty, also an alumnus, was the chief guest at the function. The three-day meet began with a felicitation function at FIVV at 9 am and was followed by the inauguration of the pharma exhibition by FICCI which was inaugurate by Dr Shetty.

The inaugural and closing functions are being held at KMC Greens and so will the entertainment programmes in the evenings. The rest of the activity will be held mainly on the MIT campus.

The scientific sessions will be held in the lecture rooms. The posters will all be put up in the new food court, which has a massive space, and, about 4,000 delegates will be staying in the MIT hostels. Food for all the delegates will be served at the MIT football and hockey ground which has been enclosed for the purpose.

The exhibition which will be one of the main attractions of the Congress will be held at the MIT stadium. The entire stadium has been turned into a huge exhibition centre with top end machines on display in the stalls. More than 150 exhibitors will display their wares.

Coming to the Sessions itself, top priority has been given to enhance the science content of the Congress and discuss the recent advancements in pharmaceutical sciences and profession. There will be 85 lectures in all to be delivered by 55 Indian and 30 foreign speakers. Sixteen symposia have been planned with stress on specific areas of interest, one of which will be on the Menace of Spurious Drugs. This is a subject of intense worldwide interest as it threatens the health of drug consumers.

Entertainment programmes will be at KMC Greens. On December 18, 2010 Swaratma Fusion Rock Band (Mumbai) will provide high-octane music, it will be the turn of the local talents of Manipal University to perform the next day. On both days, entertainment programmes will be held at Syndicate Bank Golden Jubilee Hall, performed by Thakur and Co.