Afghanistan becomes first country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has become the first country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) pursuant to the efforts of Department of Commerce and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The formal recognistion came from Afghanistan’s National Department of Regulation of Medicines and Health Products of Ministry of Public Health.

It will also be used based on requirement as reputable pharmacopoeia in laboratory of medicines and health products quality. With this, a new beginning has been made and Afghanistan has become the first country to recognize IP pursuant to the efforts of Department of Commerce and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

What is Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP)?

It is an officially recognized book of standards as per Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 thereunder. IP specifies the standards of drugs manufactured and marketed in India in terms of their identity, strength and purity. The 2nd Schedule of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, designates IP as an official book of standards for drugs imported and manufactured for sale, stock and exhibition for sale and distribution in India. The standards prescribed in IP are authoritative in nature and are enforced by regulatory authorities for quality control of medicines in India.

The quality, efficacy and safety of the medicines are important from healthcare perspective. In order to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of medicinal products, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) provides the legal and scientific standards in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).

IPC’s Mission: To promote public and animal health in India by bringing out officially and authoritative accepted standards for quality of drugs including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients and dosage forms, used by patients, health professionals and consumers. This is achieved by developing standards for medicines and supporting their implementation. In addition to this, IPC also develops IP Reference Substances (IPRS) that act as fingerprint for identification of an article under test as well as its purity as prescribed in IP monographs.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2019