Shalini Gupta– New Delhi
Into its second day, the 65th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (IPC), witnessed a plethora of scientific sessions led by academicians, and industry experts, discussing a wide range of issues pertinent to the pharmaceutical industry and the profession of pharmacy. The sessions were well attended by delegates and students in equal measure. This, even as the student poster exhibition dotted the way to seminar halls where the sessions were being held concurrently.
From an industry perspective, issues such as a risk-based approach to develop a strategy for drug production and control, management of impurities in generic drug development, application of quality by design for developing bio-relevant dissolution specifications and the developmental and regulatory challenges with respect to biosimilars were
Dr YK Gupta, Head, Department of Pharmacology, AIIMS touched upon the issues in clinical trials in India, a burning topic that has elicited controversy, but also promises hope. Dr Rajender Aparasu, Professor University of Houston, College of Pharmacy through various case studies and analysis shared the importance of design in pharmacoepidemiological research, that elicited questions form students.
With the pharmacist being the centre of the Congress, speakers also dwelled on the issues and challenges facing community healthcare and the role of community pharmacists in implementing public health policy, as well as measures to strengthen community pharmacy through a collaborative approach and the models to achieve the same. The session was led by PD Sheth, Vice President, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) who touched upon the role of pharmacists in empowering patients and helping them make informed choices. “As per 2012 data, globally 73 per cent of pharmacists work in the community and hospitals, however, in all 11 countries in South East Asia, including India, the figure stands at only 55 per cent,” he said.
Academicians also discussed measures to revive pharmacy education in India and how regulatory organisations could help in upholding the quality of teaching identifying quality issues, solutions and strategies to strengthen the same. The increasing role of Information and communication technology in higher education was also discussed.
Amidst all this, it was the Pharmajob fair at the venue that was choc-a-bloc with students registering themselves for interviews with companies keen to tap talent. This initiative has been taken for the first time at an IPC and has surely been a hit.
Talking about how registrations have exceeded all expectations, AK Gupta, Chairman, Pharmajob Committee said, “While 650 students registered online, 50 of them did so at the venue on December 21st. We expect more students to participate.” As many as 22 companies are at the fair, including Mankind Pharma, Medicamen Biotech, Alchem Phytochemicals, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Ravian Labs, Lark Labs, Percos India . ITL and Vival Labs, Abbott India will be coming on the last day of the show. 218 students were interviewed on the first day, of which 52 were shortlisted by companies. The number is expected to go to 100 by the third day of the show.