KDPMA and PCI partnership to accelerate implementation of robust processes to fill critical knowledge gaps

Bengaluru, March 9, 2023 :

The Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (KDPMA) and the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) have come together to accelerate the implementation of robust processes to fill critical knowledge gaps. This ensues after a memorandum of understanding was inked here recently comprehending the need to collaborate to accomplish the objective on the impending need to develop new medicines.

The need for partnerships is growing because many areas of unmet medical need are complex. PCI was the right fit to catch the qualified pharmacy candidate early. To this, the MoU was strengthened as PCI and KDPMA share common objective of a collaborative relationship between industry and academia, Harish K Jain, president, KDPMA told Pharmabiz.

This is an age of industry academia partnerships. We will be able to pursue the best opportunities in the mutual interest of industry and academia, added Jain.

Following the MoU, both PCI and KDPMA envisage to develop a collaborative mechanism in the areas of research, manufacturing operations, good distribution practices and rational use of medicines. This according to them is for the overall development of the industry, academia and the patient community.

There is a four pronged strategy that is devised to bolster the partnership. The first is to develop the course curriculum. Both PCI will jointly work towards development of a course curriculum with the objective of ensuring that students are industry-ready upon their completion of their course thus resulting in reduction of inherent cost of training budding pharmacists.

The second is to train faculty and students. Here KDPMA will facilitate industrial visits to provide them the much needed exposure to various departments in a manufacturing unit such us production, QC, QA, R&D, stores and distribution centre.

The third is the establishment of Centre of Excellence which is a comprehensive infrastructure of all facilities under one roof. This Centre will propel both academia and industry to undertake projects for development of innovative processes, analytical development methods and product development. Training of technical staff in manufacturing units in the presence of faculty and students will give them hand on exposure. Projects undertaken by the academia for the industry will generate additional income streams and inculcate an environment of innovation and research for the budding pharmacists.

The fourth is to promote entrepreneurship & infrastructure. Joint collaborations between academia and industry will help develop requisite infrastructure and promote entrepreneurship resulting in a robust and self-reliant Indian pharmaceutical industry.

Nothing in this MoU restricts, in any way, either of the parties from participating in similar activities or arrangements with other public or private agencies, organizations, or individuals. Further this MoU does not entail any financial commitments on either PCI or KDPMA.

According to Jain, Covid pandemic was a phase of partnerships. Industry and academia realised the power of unanimity. From manufacture of medicines to contain the virus to supply of essential medical consumables took off from a platform of concern leading to co-ordination. Similarly here too, coming together of KDPMA-PCI is a start of working together successfully. Pharmabiz