The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has signed two key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) and the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hajipur, to strengthen medicine quality, patient safety and pharmaceutical research in India.

The agreement between IPC and PMBI aims to enhance the quality assurance framework for medicines distributed through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs). As part of the collaboration, PMBI will submit randomly selected batches of Jan Aushadhi medicines to IPC for testing, reinforcing oversight of drug quality in the affordable medicines network.

The partnership will also promote the use of the National Formulary of India (NFI) across PMBJKs to ensure rational use of medicines. In addition, efforts will be made to strengthen pharmacovigilance by displaying the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) QR code and toll-free helpline number at Janaushadhi outlets, encouraging reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and improving patient safety.

Both organisations will jointly conduct training, awareness and sensitisation programmes for pharmacists and other stakeholders, focusing on rational drug use, ADR reporting systems and the broader role of pharmacists in public health.

In a parallel development, IPC signed an MoU with NIPER Hajipur to advance collaborative research, academic exchange and capacity building in pharmaceutical sciences and healthcare products.

The collaboration will focus on areas such as impurity profiling—including genotoxic impurities like nitrosamines—and linking these findings with adverse drug reaction data to establish evidence-based pharmacopoeial limits. It will also cover the development of analytical methods, quality control protocols and reference standards for biologics, biosimilars, and emerging therapies such as cell and gene therapies for inclusion in the Indian Pharmacopoeia.

The two institutions will further engage in joint research projects, training programmes, workshops, conferences and faculty exchange initiatives. The partnership will also facilitate access to advanced analytical infrastructure, while offering internship and fellowship opportunities for pharmacy students, along with joint publications and educational materials.