The Kerala drug control department, in association with the Kerala Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (KPMA) is jointly organizing a cGMP seminar in Kochi on May 29 and 30 to educate the pharmaceutical drug manufacturers in the state on mandatory requirements for manufacturing.

The seminar would elaborate the provisions and requirements of cGMP norms, besides the guidelines mandated in the Schedule M norms. Further, the interactive seminar would explore the global trends in manufacturing and futuristic market requirements, TP Gopinathan, drug controller and MP George, deputy drug controller, Kerala told Pharmabiz.

Experts on the subject like Prof. Saranjith from NIPER, New Delhi and Mithra of CDSCO, Ghaziabad will lead the sessions of the CGMP seminar.

It is to be noted though Kerala has about 97 allopathic drug manufacturing license holders including ancillary industries like a dozen odd oxygen manufacturers, gelatin, blood bag, medical and surgical product manufacturers etc., only less than 30 units are active in the field. Of this, only eight to ten companies have significant presence in manufacturing of formulations and market their products. Less than six units in the state have GMP manufacturing facilities and a majority of rest of the units is yet to attempt to modernize in accordance to the Schedule M norms.