The two-day Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) convention will begin on March 13 in Chennai. There will be a pre-convention scientific conference on HIV/AIDS today at the Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, in the city organised by the IPA and the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and IPA. The conference will start at 10 am.

The theme of the Convention is “India—Surging Forward as the Global Pharma Destination”. Over 2000 delegates from within the country and abroad will attend the three-day programme. The convention will conclude on March 14.

The pre-convention scientific conference will be inaugurated by Tamil Nadu state principal secretary of Health & Family welfare, V K Subburaju. Dr B Suresh, president of the IPA will preside over the function. The IPA convention will be inaugurated on March 13 by Dr Sivathanu Pillai, CEO of DRDO at the Defence Ministry, Government of India.

In the scientific seminar, Dr Saji Thomas, director, Par Pharmaceuticals USA will speak on stability testing and Dr PD Sheth, vice-president of FIP will deliver speech on the objectives of HIV. Ivan Kotse, president of CPA will be the Guest of Honour. J Jayaseelan, SV Veeramani, Tamil Nadu state Drugs Control director M Bhaskaran and S D Joag IPA general secretary will also attend the function.

Following the scientific conference, there will be a workshop on Stability Testing for Global submission by the AAPS and IPA. About 100 scientific papers would be presented in the various plenary and technical sessions of conference and of the workshop. The delegates would include Regulatory & Industry Professionals, Community Pharmacists and Hospital Pharmacists, Academicians, Students and Researchers.

The Plenary lectures include the case for Global Reform in Pharmacy Education, Pharmacist’s role in realizing MDG, and the Strategies for Developing India as Global Pharma Education Base.

The Industry & Regulatory Division of the IPA will hold on discussions on subjects like Emerging Technologies & Regulations in Pharma Industry, Harmonizing Regulatory standards for meeting Global Challenges, Developing India as Global outsourcing base for manufacturing, Indian Pharma Industry’s R&D needs to meet the future challenges, Do’s & Don’ts for ANDA Dossiers, and Patent Strategies for Indian Pharma companies.

The Hospital & Community Division has decided to conduct sessions on Emerging Trends in Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacovigilance---core value of pharmacotherapy, Medicines---perception, practice and rational use, Professional practice Regulations, Green Pharmacy through solar energy, and the role of Pharmacists in the management of CBRN Disasters.

Finally there will be a session by the Education & Student’s Division. The themes for discussion will be on Pharmacy Education—assuring quality & competence, Autonomy of the Profession of Pharmacy, Bridging the Gap in Education, Clinical Research—ethics & regulations, Pharm D Education—Future dimensions for therapeutic relevance.