The state drug regulatory body has tied up with US-based Drug Information Association (DIA) to train its drug inspectors. Both the bodies are planning to hold extensive training programmes and networking sessions to help strengthen the drug monitoring system in the state.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan drug regulatory body has shown keen interest in adopting the e-licensing and fake drug sms-alert system of the Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) here.
The DIA is a nonprofit, worldwide association that aims to foster innovation, improve public health globally and provide a forum for knowledge exchange. It started with a group of 30 professionals in 1964, and evolved into a global, multi-disciplinary association of nearly 18,000 members spread across 80 countries.
H G Koshia, commissioner of Gujarat FDCA said, "We are planning to have a training session in the third week of May for our drug inspectors. We had tied up with the DIA during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January." The DIA and FDCA had signed a memorandum of understanding to forge partnership in the area of knowledge sharing and networking initiatives in the drug regulatory space. The FDCA is also planning to hold a meeting with stakeholders during the conference, to discuss how to develop an industry-friendly approach that will boost development of the industry but in line with regulatory requirements.
Besides the DIA, the Gujarat FDCA already has a number of international tie-ups in place. To name a few, it has collaborations with international agencies like the US Food and Drugs Administration, and national level institutes and associations like the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) and the Indian Pharmacy Graduates' Association.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan drug regulatory body, the Nairobi head-quartered Pharmacy and Poisons Board, has shown keen interest in adopting the Gujarat FDCA's model of e-licensing and sms-alert system for fake drugs.
"The deputy registrar of Kenyan regulatory board was here around two weeks back and he reviewed our regulatory mechanism closely. Already, a lot of local pharmaceutical firms export drugs to Kenya, so they are quite exposed to the regulatory systems in Gujarat. He has indicated that the Kenyan board will come back with a full team to learn about the details of our e-governance system and how it could be replicated in their country," Koshia informed.
