The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) will soon send a delegation to Ghana for taking efforts for the recognition and acceptance of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) in that country, apart from British Pharmacopoeia and US Pharmacopoeia. Pharmexcil 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 countries.

Bhavin Mehta, chairman of iPHEX 2015 says, “In iPHEX 2015, Pharmexcil has organised a seminar which highlighted the benefits of IP and the delegates from Ghana who had attended the seminar found it interesting. Even the health ministry of Ghana has shown an interest in IP. IP will benefit their country and will also reduce their healthcare cost as IP is much cheaper than BP and USP and the standard of IP is no way inferior to the standard of other pharmacopoeia.”

Once the IP standards are recognised in other country, the Indian companies need not manufacture the products as per other accepted global standards and can easily export the drugs that are manufactured in India as per IP.

Bharat Desai, CoA member of Pharmexcil, who visited Ghana last month, said that former Food and Drug Board (FDB) head in Ghana Agyarko, whom he had visited during his visit, has shown in interest in promoting IP in Ghana.

He also met Anthony Ameka, chief executive officer of Chamber of Pharmacy, Ghana and Karkari, chief of Ghana FDB, for quality control lab and explained them about the intention of IP recognition. Pradeep Gupta, first secretary, Indian High Commission office at Ghana has also expressed his willingness to support for IP recognition.

After the visit, Desai has suggested that a committee be formed which will take this matter exclusively and the committee should comprise of Pharmexcil members, DCGI Official, IP Commission and 2 to 3 members from Indian manufacturers who are settled in Ghana.

He also suggested an exhaustive report to be prepared backed by technical submission which illustrate IP is taking care of all the specifications, standards of APIs and formulation in all respects in line with the USP/BP or any other Pharmacopoeia which Ghana FDB is currently practicing to regulate importation. The comprehensive dossier should be first submitted with a Memorandum of Interest and a brief report on commercial benefiting aspects for both the countries.

After the presentation, policy makers of Ghana should be officially invited to Ghana. They shall meet ministry of health, DCGI Office/DOP Office, NIPER Centre, and suitable arrangements should be made at IP commission for live demonstration about the developments that are undergoing and which are already achieved to substantiate our efforts.