The recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) in Ghana is getting inordinately delayed, thanks to the indifferent attitude of the Union health ministry. While the Ghana government is waiting for the final decision from the Indian government, the health ministry is showing no urgency in taking a final call on the issue, which will reduce their product development cost and will also reduce drug registration time of both the countries.

The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has taken the step for the recognition and acceptance of Indian Pharmacopoeia in Ghana, apart from British Pharmacopoeia and US Pharmacopoeia.  The council is keen to promote IP in foreign countries as the acceptance of IP in other countries will reduce their product development cost and will also reduce drug registration time of both the countries.

An official involved in the recognition of IP in Ghana expressed the apprehension that their efforts may go in vain if the Indian government further delays the process of recognition of IP in Ghana as there will be general election in Ghana soon, and once the new government is formed, the entire procedure of recognition has to be repeated again.

He further said that only a ministry to ministry talk process is remaining because ultimately the Union health ministry is the decision maker, and only a final mail has to be sent by the health ministry to the Ghana government.

Top delegates from both the countries have made many visits to discuss and understand the benefits of IP. The chief executive officer of Ghana FDA, chairman of parliament health committee, former health minister, secretary of West Africa Manufacturers Association and secretary of Pharmaceutical Association of Ghana have visited CDSCO headquarters and IPC office in Delhi early this year.

The official from Ghana also had a discussion with DCGI Dr G N Singh few months back on how to start the collaboration in areas such as exchange programme and capacity building and agreed upon sending the technical people to Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission for short term course to understand where the differences are and how to handle them in the initial stage.

Hudu Mogtari, chief executive officer of FDA Ghana, had earlier informed Pharmabiz during his last visit to India that the Ghana government will soon recognise the IP and has started taking steps towards its recognition but the exact date and time cannot be said now as it has to go through the decision making process by the Ghana health ministry and it will not take very long. Our current law creates room for the recognition of pharmacopoeia apart from those that are specifically mentioned in the law. We don't need a separate law, it is just a policy statement that would be issued that Ghana in addition to all the other pharmacopoeia has recognised.

The CDSCO has also agreed to provide support by providing training to the technical officers, helping in capacity building for drug testing and also to provide some basic standards necessary for drug testing.