‘First Policy Makers’ Forum’

Context:

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri JP Nadda inaugurates ‘First Policy Makers’ Forum’ in New Delhi.

An international delegation of policymakers and drug regulators from 15 countries is participating in the forum hosted by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The forum aims to foster meaningful discussions on the recognition of the IP and the implementation of India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), popularly known as the Janaushadhi Scheme.

“India has always been the world leader in the production and supply of vaccines contributing to approximately 60 percent of the global supply of vaccines.”

And also the World Health Organization procures 70 percent of its vaccine demand from India.

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission

• It is an autonomous Institution of theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
• It is created to setstandards of drugsin the country.
• Functions:

ØIts basic function is toupdate regularlythe standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region.

ØIt publishes official documents for improvingQuality of Medicinesby way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).

ØIt further promotes rationaluse of generic medicinesby publishing National Formulary of India.

ØIt prescribes standards for identity, purity and strength of drugs essentially required from the health care perspective of human beings and animals.

ØIt alsoprovides IP Reference Substances(IPRS) which act as a fingerprint for identification of an article under test and its purity as prescribed in IP.

What is Generic Drug?

It is a medication that has exactly the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug and yields the same therapeutic effect and sold at affordable price.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia which is the official book of standards for drug included therein, in terms of the Second Schedule to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 so as to specify the standards of identify, purity and strength of the drugs imported, manufactured for sale, stocked or exhibited for sale or distributed in India.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 across the country.

In 2015, the Jan Aushadhi Scheme was revamped as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY).

In 2016, it was again renamed as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

The Objectives of PMBJP

Reducing patients’ out-of-pocket expenses while increasing access to high-quality medications, supplies, and surgical equipment.

To spread awareness about generic medications among the general public and refute the myth that generic drugs are of lower quality or more ineffective because they are more affordable.

To make sure that all women in India have easy access to menstruation health services.

Create jobs by enlisting individual business owners in the launch of PMBJP Kendras

Implementing Agency:

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) is the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

PMBI was established in December, 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India.