Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilizers, J.P. Nadda inaugurated the ‘First Policy Makers’ Forum’, on 19th August, which will run until 22nd August 2024.

To elevate India's position in the global pharmaceutical sector, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Ministry of External Affairs, hosted an international delegation of policymakers and drug regulators from 15 countries. 

The forum witnessed participation from various countries including Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Malawi, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uganda and Zambia. The forum aims to foster meaningful discussions on the recognition of the IP and the implementation of India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), popularly known as the Janaushadhi Scheme.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of two significant digital platforms by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare—the IP Online Portal and the Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring System (ADRMS) software. The IP Online Portal represents a major step towards digitalising the Indian Pharmacopoeia, making drug standards more accessible to stakeholders worldwide.

The ADRMS software, developed as part of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, is India’s first indigenous medical product safety database tailored to the needs of the Indian population. It facilitates the collection and analysis of adverse events related to medicines and medical devices, thereby significantly strengthening the country’s pharmacovigilance infrastructure. This software not only streamlines the reporting process but also empowers consumers and healthcare professionals to directly report adverse events, ensuring a more comprehensive capture of safety information.