After according autonomous status and earmarking separate budget allocation, the Centre has initiated steps to evolve Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission into a world class organisation on par with its counterpart agencies in the developed nations and thereby improving the standards of Indian drugs.

The health ministry has constituted a consultative committee to suggest measures for upgrading the institution and launched a series of consultations in this regard. "Health secretary and other senior officials are so keen to improve the functioning of the IPC to put it on par with agencies like US Pharmacopoeia Convention or EDQM in Europe. The ministry has committed sufficient funds to improve the overall infrastructure and other facilities after working out a comprehensive plan," sources at the IPC said.

Besides upgrading the infrastructure with world class facilities including laboratory, additional manpower would also be inducted and overall quality of the functioning would be improved. Modernising of the lab and education and training to for the staff and the stakeholders will be part of the overhauling programme.

"Training would be given to the staff of IPC by USP and BP scientists and we hope to see it as a world class facility within a couple of years. Consultations have been initiated with leading personnel in the field, stakeholders and officials of agencies like USP and BP to elicit their views on improving the functioning," sources said. The consultative panel appointed by the ministry has already started discussions and working on a day-to-day basis.

The centre had accorded autonomy to the IPC in March, giving a major push to the functioning of the agency in standard-setting efforts. The Central Indian Pharmacopoeia Laboratory was also placed exclusively for conducting tests required for IP. Following the move, the Parliament had recently approved separate allocation of funds for the IPC, completing the process of autonomy and financial freedom.