National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, which is coordinating different activities of all NIPERs as the lead institute, is planning to set up an office in New Delhi for better coordination with the concerned ministries and the Pharmaceutical Department and thereby channelising more benefits to the industry.

The proposal for the same, among other things, will be considered for approval by the next meeting of the Board of Governors, taking place in Delhi on August 29, it is learnt.

With the setting up of the six more NIPERs at Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Hazipur, Kolkata, Guwahati and Rae Barelli, there is an increase in academic and administrative activities such as compilation of reports by the co-ordinators of new NIPERs, to monitor the activities, holding joint meetings etc. At present, these activities are being coordinated by the NIPER, S.A.S. Nagar. An office in Delhi is expected to facilitate these activities.

Further, newly formed DoP is having different new schemes namely hazard management and R&D activities in the country. The Department is continuously seeking the technical help from the faculty members of NIPER, Mohali, as well as of its director. An office in the Capital will thus ultimately help the industry to interact with the NIPERs and take more benefits, sources said.

The office will have a scientist and administration manager, as per the proposal for which 25 per cent of expenditure would be spent from the institute's non-plan grant and the rest would be released from the grant-in aid to the institution.

The Board meeting will ratify the minutes of the previous 50th and 51st meetings held in November last and March this year. Earlier decisions and the follow-up actions on proposals like setting up of the proposed regulatory compliant pilot plant, preparing of the list of services offered by the institute to the industry and their fees for the next five years, and training programmes for the SME sector will also come up before the board of governors, among the host of other academic and administrative issues of the NIPER, sources said.