Only Pharmacists Can Stop Fake Drug Menace: Punjab Governor
Chandigarh, 22 Dec 2017 (ANI): Inaugurating the three-day 69th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC) at the Chitkara University Campus here on Friday, Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore said that pharmacists had a key role to play in stopping the menace of fake drugs entering the market.
He called upon pharmaceutical professionals and the industry as whole to produce affordable medicines for the poor and placed emphasis on the need to cater to the rural hinterland. He asked pharmacists to reach out to villages in pursuit offering better healthcare.
"India is facing huge challenge of fake drug menace, and to minimise it, the pharmacists role is very important apart from regulatory agencies which are working to stop this unholy business. Pharmacists can easily stop this menace by detecting spurious drugs as they are the first line of administrating drugs," Badnore said.
The 69th IPC is focusing its concern on India's over dependence on the import of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), the crucial raw material required for manufacturing drugs.
According to Dr. Shailendra Saraf, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the IPCE 2017, "India has emerged as a key supplier of generic and affordable medicines for the world market, but it's overwhelming dependence on China for API to the extent of over 65 per cent of the requirement, is a major worry".
"The theme of the Congress is 'Skill and will to make quality pill', and the discussions will be centred around three main tracks- pharma education, pharmacy practice and industry-cum-regulations," said Dr. Saraf.
"Forums like IPC provide a unique opportunity to pharma educationalists to interact with industry and regulatory professionals and allow them to acquaint themselves with recent technologies through technical sessions and pharma expo. It would help academicians to look into their curriculum and incorporate content beyond syllabus as per the current need of the industries," said Ms Madhu Chitkara, Vice Chancellor of Chitkara University, the host of this year's IPC.
Experts from the pharma manufacturing industry, top pharmacists and academicians will be discussing threadbare the importance of good quality and safe medicines. Focus of the current Congress would be on exploring new avenues in capacity building, critical monitoring and evaluation of pharmaceutical products to produce quality and safe medications.
New innovations of pharmaceutical machinery and laboratory equipment etc. from India and overseas will be showcased and run concurrently alongside the technical sessions.
"We will be adopting a resolution on the final day which will be submitted to the Central Government for appropriate action," said Dr.Saraf.
The Congress is being attended by over 10,000 delegates, including 200 foreigners. This year's theme is "Skill and will to make the quality pill".
Discussions will be centred around three main tracks- pharma education, pharmacy practice and industry-cum-regulations.
SOURCE : ANI News