DIA's young professional chapter (YPC) in Gujarat was launched by Dr Sultan S Ghani, director (Therapeutics products) HealthCanada and also director, DIA, India. The YPC was set up in collaboration with the Gujarat Food & Drugs Control Administration (FDCA). Gujarat is the second state to have such an association after Maharashtra.

The idea behind setting up YPC is to encourage sharing and exchange of knowledge within the professional community. The YPC Gujarat will be headed by Nirav Choksi and his team of professionals. H G Koshia, commissioner, Food & Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) Gujarat State said that this chapter is headed only by professionals and devoid of any governmental or bureaucratic influence. "We would actively support this initiative started by the DIA and since it will provide an excellent platform for professionals to discuss and share their idea's. It aims at promoting co-ordination with like minded people in the industry to discuss on various industry matter."

YPC will be organising a two day workshop on August 8 and 9, this year. It will be the first event organised by the DIA under YPC and Gujarat FDCA would be supporting this event. The workshop will be on pharmaceutical quality and would deal with CMC compliance.

Opening of YPC in Gujarat is of great implication since Gujarat is considered as a pharma hub with many professionals working in the state. Such platform would allow sharing of ideas and would lead to more discussions that would allow in solving many problems faced within the industry through various workshops and conferences. Gujarat FDCA's support is good since it will help in dealing with the issues in a much broader light and with wider reach.

Drug Information Association (DIA), is a professional association of more than 30,000 members worldwide who are involved in the discovery, development, regulation, surveillance and marketing of pharmaceuticals and related products, had started functioning in India sometime back. DIA, the non-profit, multi-disciplinary, neutral forum is committed to the broad dissemination of information among its members, with continuously improved professional practice as the goal.