IPC Inks Three MoUs In Nagaland To Strengthen Pharmacovigilance, Patient Safety

In a move aimed at significantly improving drug and medical device safety surveillance in the North-East, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has signed three important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Nagaland Medical Council, the Nagaland State Drugs Control Administration (NSDCA), and the Nagaland State Pharmacy Council. This strategic collaboration is expected to enhance the overall pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance framework in the State, ensuring that systems for monitoring drug reactions, device-related issues, and patient safety are strengthened in a more structured and systematic manner.

Through these agreements, the IPC intends to encourage and expand adverse event reporting mechanisms, broaden the reach of Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) and medical device monitoring centres, and promote the adoption and usage of the National Formulary of India (NFI) across various healthcare facilities for safer medication practices. By improving awareness and accessibility to essential drug information, the collaboration aims to help healthcare professionals make better-informed decisions, ultimately contributing to patient safety and better health outcomes.

A particularly significant aspect of this development is the MoU signed with the Nagaland Medical Council, which marks the first-ever agreement between the IPC and any State Medical Council in India. This milestone is expected to support the implementation of pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance interventions at all levels of healthcare delivery, including primary health centres, thereby creating a more robust network for early detection and reporting of adverse events.

The formal signing of the pacts took place during a one-day training programme on Pharmacovigilance and Materiovigilance held in Kohima. The event, organised by the IPC in collaboration with the NSDCA, brought together key stakeholders and emphasised the importance of building strong surveillance systems. The MoUs seek to facilitate the use of Indian Pharmacopoeia Reference Substances and Impurity Standards for drug testing, enhance the technical capacity of stakeholders, and advance various patient safety initiatives throughout Nagaland.

The agreements were signed by Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC, Dr. Kevilhulie Meyase, Registrar of the Nagaland Medical Council, Imlilila, Assistant Drugs Controller, NSDCA, and Khele Thorie, Registrar of the Nagaland State Pharmacy Council. The ceremony was held in the presence of senior representatives from all three institutions, symbolising a shared commitment to improving healthcare quality in the region.

Notably, the MoU with the NSDCA represents the second such agreement by the IPC after its partnership with the UPFDA and is the first in the North-Eastern region. Similarly, the pact with the Nagaland State Pharmacy Council positions it as the fourth pharmacy council in the country to formalise collaboration with the Commission.

Under this partnership, comprehensive training and capacity-building activities will be extended to physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and technical personnel involved in drug quality testing and safety reporting. The agreement also emphasises wider adoption of the NFI, annual observance of National Pharmacovigilance Week, and the establishment of ADR monitoring and medical device surveillance centres across the State.

According to the IPC, it will provide technical expertise and guidance, while the NSDCA and the State Pharmacy Council will coordinate with hospitals, medical colleges, pharmacists, drug inspectors, and private healthcare establishments to ensure effective implementation of all planned initiatives.