In a significant step towards enhancing public health and patient safety in Jharkhand, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jharkhand State Pharmacy Council (JSPC) on November 15, 2025. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen collaborative efforts for promoting safe and rational medicine use, enhance pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance activities, and advance patient safety mechanisms across the state.
π€ Key Highlights of the MoU
The collaboration between IPC and JSPC represents a shared commitment to improving medication safety and strengthening public health systems through structured capacity-building and evidence-based pharmacy practice.
π About the Signing Ceremony
The MoU was formally signed by Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC, and Shri Prasanth Kumar Pandey, Registrar-cum-Secretary of JSPC, in the presence of representatives from both organizations. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad, functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
π― Objectives and Scope of Collaboration
Through this strategic partnership, IPC and JSPC will work together to achieve several critical objectives aimed at strengthening the pharmaceutical ecosystem in Jharkhand:
| Focus Area | Key Activities |
|---|---|
| Capacity Building | Training registered pharmacists in ADR reporting, pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance practices |
| NFI Promotion | Strengthening utilization of National Formulary of India as standard reference document |
| Awareness Programs | Organizing programs for hospital and community pharmacists |
| Safety Surveillance | Enhancing medicine safety surveillance mechanisms in the state |
π National Formulary of India (NFI) Implementation
A cornerstone of this collaboration is the mandatory use of the National Formulary of India (NFI) in institutional pharmacy settings. The NFI serves as a comprehensive standard reference document that supports rational dispensing and safe medication practices across healthcare facilities in Jharkhand. Pharmacists will be encouraged to systematically use the NFI to ensure evidence-based prescribing and dispensing.
βοΈ What is Pharmacovigilance?
Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems. It plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety and improving public health outcomes.
π Expected Outcomes and Benefits
This MoU is expected to deliver significant improvements in pharmaceutical care and patient safety across Jharkhand:
| Outcome Area | Expected Impact |
|---|---|
| Professional Engagement | Enhanced engagement of pharmacists in safety monitoring activities |
| ADR Reporting | Wider participation in adverse drug reaction reporting systems |
| Medicine Safety | Reinforced medicine safety surveillance mechanisms statewide |
| Healthcare Quality | Improved quality of pharmaceutical care in public and private sectors |
π₯ Role of Key Organizations
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)
The IPC will provide technical guidance and expert support for all initiatives under this MoU. As the national regulatory authority for setting standards of drugs in India, IPC brings extensive expertise in pharmacovigilance, quality assurance, and pharmaceutical standards.
Jharkhand State Pharmacy Council (JSPC)
JSPC will coordinate with pharmacists in both public and private healthcare establishments to ensure effective implementation of agreed activities. The council will facilitate training programs, awareness campaigns, and compliance monitoring across the state.
π National Pharmacovigilance Week Observance
As part of this collaboration, IPC and JSPC will facilitate the annual observance of National Pharmacovigilance Week in Jharkhand. This initiative will help raise awareness about medication safety, encourage reporting of adverse drug reactions, and promote rational use of medicines among healthcare professionals and the general public.
π Significance for Jharkhand
This MoU marks a pivotal moment in Jharkhand’s healthcare development, as it will strengthen the state’s capacity to monitor and ensure medicine safety, ultimately benefiting millions of residents through improved pharmaceutical care standards.
π Materiovigilance: An Important Aspect
Materiovigilance refers to the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the safety and performance of medical devices. By including materiovigilance in this MoU, the partnership ensures comprehensive safety monitoring of not just medicines, but also medical devices used in healthcare facilities across Jharkhand.
| Monitoring Type | Definition | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacovigilance | Safety monitoring of medicines and drugs | Detect and prevent adverse drug reactions |
| Materiovigilance | Safety monitoring of medical devices | Ensure device safety and performance |
β Conclusion
The signing of this MoU between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and the Jharkhand State Pharmacy Council represents a forward-looking initiative that will significantly enhance patient safety, promote rational medicine use, and strengthen pharmaceutical care standards across Jharkhand. By focusing on capacity building, pharmacovigilance, and evidence-based practices, this collaboration will contribute to better health outcomes for the people of Jharkhand.
This partnership aligns with national efforts to improve healthcare quality and demonstrates the commitment of both organizations to protecting public health through systematic monitoring, professional development, and collaborative action.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
