India Strengthens Leadership In Global Pharmaceutical Standardisation: IMWP 2025

New Delhi, Feb 6 (KNN) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) commenced the 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias (IMWP) on Wednesday in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

The three-day conference, scheduled to conclude on February 7, 2025, brings together global leaders in pharmacopoeial science, regulatory authorities, and industry stakeholders to address critical aspects of pharmaceutical standardisation.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, delivered the keynote address, emphasising India's position as the "Pharmacy of the World" and reaffirming the nation's dedication to global pharmaceutical standardisation and regulatory convergence. 

The Minister highlighted the IMWP's crucial role in fostering international collaboration within the pharmaceutical sector.

During the inaugural session, Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasised the importance of global partnerships in enhancing pharmaceutical quality standards, while highlighting India's ongoing efforts to align its regulatory framework with international best practices. 

Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC and Drugs Controller General (India), detailed the organisation's contributions to global pharmacopoeial science, particularly noting the implementation of the IP Online platform to improve accessibility to Indian Pharmacopoeia standards.

WHO Representative to India, Roderico H. Ofrin, commended India's leadership in establishing pharmacopoeial standards and stressed the significance of regulatory harmonisation in safeguarding public health and patient safety. 

The conference agenda encompasses several critical areas, including a review of progress on harmonisation initiatives fr0m the previous IMWP and discussions on emerging challenges in impurity assessment and ICH Q6 guideline implications.

A key objective of the meeting is to establish the IMWP Charter, which will provide a governance framework for future gatherings. 

The conference will also address environmental sustainability in pharmacopoeial practices and pharmaceutical manufacturing standards, while facilitating updates fr0m the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG).

The outcomes of this international gathering are expected to strengthen global pharmacopoeial cooperation and advance pharmaceutical quality assurance standards. 

The discussions will serve as a foundation for future collaborations in standard-setting and regulatory harmonisation, reinforcing the essential role of pharmacopoeias in ensuring medicine quality, safety, and efficacy worldwide.