The national seminar on bulk drugs and Pharmaceutical industry --'Vision -2020', which was scheduled to hold on September 9 in Hyderabad, has been postponed in view of the tragic death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in Kurnool District on September 2.

The global conference on Quality of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients scheduled for three days from September 5 to 7, will be held on 6th and 7th, leaving September 5 as a day of mourning , sources from the Associations told this Correspondent.

Probably the new date for the Seminar of Vision 2020, which is organized by the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA), will be announced on Saturday. The global conference is called by the Drug Information Association (DIA) in cooperation with World Health Organization (WHO) and European Directorate for Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM).
"The sudden, but tragic passing away of our Chief Minister is a big shock to every one of us. So we have decided to put off the national seminar to some other date. Regarding it, we have sent notice via email to every participant. The fresh date will be announced later", K Sunil, manger of BDMA told Pharmabiz.

Managing directors of major pharmaceutical industries, CEOs, heads of plants, scientists, heads of QA & QC, representatives of trade, business consultants, academicians and students were expected to participate the seminar.
Dr NandaKumar Chodankar, chairman, DIA-Advisory Council of India said, " even though the situation is sad and different one, we are unable to cancel the Conference as so many dignitaries from several countries are coming to attend the meeting. But we have cancelled the first day's tutorial programme to mourn the death of the beloved CM, but decided to hold the conference as scheduled on 6th and 7th". A large number of expert speakers from EU, US FDA, WHO and EDQM are expected to participate in the global conference.

Sources from the BDMA said the objectives of the national seminar is to develop awareness and understanding of the global competition in bulk drugs and pharmaceutical industry for framing strategic plans in fulfilling the goals envisaged in Vision-2020 document. The Department of Pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals & fertilizers have prepared a paper on funding major drug discovery and innovation through leveraging of market financial resources under Pharma Vision 2020.

The organisers hope that the seminar will facilitate exchange of ideas among bulk drug and pharma industry circles, policy makers and academia to analyze capacities towards the objective of overcoming the challenges. It will help recognize the concerns for enabling future actions and research for optimal utilization of available resources. Another objective is to prepare a comprehensive document for future reference and action to
On Global Conference, Dr Nandakumar said the major focus of the conference will be on the current regulatory requirements for the quality of API, compliance with GMP standards from global regulatory authorities perspective. The conference will also focus on the current issues of pharmacopoeial monographs, as well as API Certification and WHO Prequalification requirements.