In an effort to promote the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, an autonomous institution under union health ministry and the United States Pharmacopoeial Convention (USP), an independent, scientific non-profit organization, signed an MOU recently to formally recognize the organizations’ collaborations in the identification, development and dissemination of science-based standards at a global level.

The goal of the MoU is to enhance global public health by working together to increase awareness of the importance of quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and safeguard the integrity of the global supply chain by increasing the availability of and access to needed public standards for medicines.

The MoU was signed by Dr G N Singh, IPC Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, and Dr Ronald T Piervincenzi, USP chief executive officer, at IPC headquarters in Ghaziabad.

USP has an office near Hyderabad and has collaborated with IPC on a number of projects related to medication quality over the last several years. “This MoU is a significant step forward in how two standard setting bodies can work together to improve global health through quality standards,” said Dr Ronald T Piervincenzi, USP chief executive officer. “Our collaboration will amplify the global public health impact of both organizations by leveraging our mutual scientific resources to advance international standards.”

IPC is created to set standards of drugs in India. Its basic function is to update regularly the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region. It publishes official documents for improving quality of medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.

Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) is another important mandate given to the IPC by the government which it is managing well.

The US Pharmacopoeial Convention (USP) is a global health organization that improves lives through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety and benefit of medicines and foods. USP’s standards are used worldwide.