Letter of Intent for Cooperation
between
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), National Coordination Centre (NCC) for Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI)
And
Indian Medical Association (IMA)

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), National Coordination centre NCC for Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) have agreed on signing this Letter of Intent to enhance their mutual understanding to promote Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) reporting in the country.

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

IPC is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. IPC is created to set standards of drugs in the country. Its basic function is to update regularly the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region. It publishes official documents for improving quality of medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India. IPC also provides IP Reference Substance (IPRS) which act as a finger print for identification of an article under test and its purity as prescribed in IP.

The IPC is functioning as NCC for PvPI since 15th April 2011 to monitor the Adverse Drug reaction. The Mission of PvPI is to safeguard the health and welfare of the Indian population by monitoring drug safety and ensuring the benefits of use of medicine outweigh the risks associated with their use. The vision of PvPI is to improve patient safety and welfare in Indian population by monitoring drug safety and thereby reducing the risk associated with use of medicines.

Indian Medical Association (IMA)

IMA is the only representative, national voluntary organisation of doctors of modern scientific system of medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well-being of the community at large. IMA is a well-established organisation with its headquarter at Delhi and State/Territory branches in 30 States and Union Territories. It has over 2,50,000 doctors as its members through more than 1700 active local branches spread all over the country.

The main objectives of IMA are to promote and advance medical and allied sciences all their different branches and to promote the improvement of public health and medical education in India. To maintain the honour and dignity and to uphold the interest of the medical profession and  to promote co-operation amongst the members thereof; To work for the abolition of compartmentalism in medical education, medical services and registration in the country and this is to achieve among all members of the profession.

Objective of cooperation

PvPI-IMA in principle agreed to work together to promote patient safety in the country.

Agreed areas for future cooperation between IPC, NCC-PvPI and IMA

1. PvPI-IMA patient safety monitoring cell to be started at IMA Head Quarter in the designated space provided by lMA.
2. Organising Continuing Medical Educations (CMEs), disseminating PvPI information/concept Pharmacovigilance (PV) in IMA in News, Journals etc.
3. IMA to identify the nodal centres for education/ advocacy and ADR monitoring and

recommend to NCC-PvPI for recognition.

1. Training to the nodal coordinators/medical officers.
2. Development/up-gradation of Mobile app. for ADR monitoring.
3.  Other areas to promote patient safety.

Terms of References

1.    PvPI-IMA intended to sensitize the clinicians to report ADR reporting in their practices.

2.    A trained manpower (Technical Associate/Programme Officer) will be appointed by IPC to coordinate with PvPI & IMA.

3.    To propagate the concept of drug safety to the patient.

4.    The expenses incurred for preparation of educational material, training, logistic support etc. shall be provided by NCC-PvPI. As per the mutual agreement.

5. To promote patient's safety in the country.