The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the new scientific body is set to expand and enhance the quality of medicines by increasing the number of monographs to 3000 and reference substances to 1200 in the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) in the coming five years.

The current edition of IP 2011 has information of 1100 monographs and only120 reference substance in it. The scientific body which was recently elected is hopeful that in its five-year term it would be able to  increase the number of both monographs and reference substance substantially.

The decision to go ahead with this two pronged approach was initiated during the first meeting of the new scientific body that was held in April 25.  Dr B Suresh, the chairman of the scientific body informed that for this purpose the IPC has constituted 24 different sub-committees dedicated to look after different aspects like blood products, excipients, developing new methods etc.

“Each of the committee will consist of three to five members and will be responsible to look after different aspects separately. Our target is to have 300 to 400 monographs and reference substances in a year,  since, only this way can we be successful in achieving the grand total that we have envisioned in the coming five years,” he added.

Speaking about the reference substances, he said that special focus will be given by IPC to ensure availability of reference substances by increasing their number since it is very useful for the industry as a measurement base for similar substances.

Among other initiatives that the IPC plans to undertake the new body is to strengthen the lab at Ghaziabad and identify regional centres on public private partnership (PPP) mode to synthesise activities that will help to have more information on reference substances and make it available to the industry.

At present, IPC is focusing on publishing the final print of the National Formulary of India (NFI) by September 2011. NFI is a publication that contains guidelines on right dosage of medicines for drug prescriber's and is expected to be availed soon for doctors, chemists and nurses in its revised form. Dr Suresh informed that they are even exploring the possibility of having NFI online for the benefit of general public.