In an important step towards monitoring the drug safety in the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), New Delhi on 03 August, 2016.

The MoU is aimed at drug safety in Kala-Azar and other vector borne diseases treatment with WHO India as the technical partner.

It was signed in the presence of Dr. Jagdish Prasad, Director General, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Dr. G.N. Singh, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, IPC & Drugs Controller General (India) and Dr. A.C. Dhariwal, Director, NVBDCP, DGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India signed the instrument on behalf of institution. Health Ministry officials, officials from IPC, NVBDCP and WHO India were also present on the occasion.

The MoU intends to foster active cooperation and exchange of information between aforementioned government bodies for drug safety and this may be seen as a step towards focused Pharmacovigilance.

In the initial phase, it aims to monitor the safety of drugs used in Kala Azar treatment. In the next phase it will be extended to other communicable vector-borne diseases (VBDs). The WHO country office will serve as the technical partner and would provide the necessary technical support in capacity building of ADR monitoring centres (AMCs) and Kala-Azar treatment centres in 54 endemic districts in which 33 districts of Bihar, 4 districts of Jharkhand, 11 districts of West Bengal and 6 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.