Industrial Pharmacy Section Annual Report 2012-2013
Founded in 1955, FIP's Industrial Pharmacy Section has expanded to a worldwide industrial pharmacy network with many activities. IPS strives to spread its activities across the different regions, involving both participants and organizations from developing and developed countries. IPS has a special focus on young pharmacists and students, and encourages their interest in the pharmaceutical industry. IPS is among the top three largest sections within FIP, with 486 members.
Currently, IPS activities have an emphasis on the quality of medicines. However, other topics such as clinical trials, pharmacy education and orphan drugs have been the subject of recent events. To this end IPS frequently co-operates with other sections in the BPP; with special interest groups in the BPS; and with outside parties including national and (supra-) regional industry associations, scientific and professional societies (e.g. ISPE, AAPS, RPSGB, EUFEPS), and health regulatory agencies and inspectorates (EMEA, FDA).
Mission
The mission of the Industrial Pharmacy Section is to represent and serve the pharmaceutical profession and pharmaceutical sciences within the pharmaceutical industry worldwide.
Accomplishments
IPS has had several meetings with APS (Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences) to establish collaboration on providing further education and in particular to interest pharmacy graduates in a career in the pharmaceutical industry. APS have for some years organized a course called "Industrial Insights" between industry and students. This has been very successful and will serve as a model moving forward. The intention is to collaborate more in the future and organize similar courses under the FIP/IPS banner and also to expand into other geographical regions, first time to be in Dublin 2013.
An IPS subcommittee has been working on a report comparing regulatory requirements in Russia with those in the EU. A summary was published in a recent IPS newsletter. Similar comparisons are being made with China, India and other countries.
IPS was very active at the Congress in Amsterdam being part of 8 sessions; “Food for thought – lessons from the food industry”, “From development to marketing – short oral communications”, “Quality assurance of the supply chain of the future”, “Improving responsible use of OTC medicines from labeling to counseling”, “Patients as partners – advancing health together”, “Water and more!”, “Emergency - not enough medicines”, “Debate on the cost of regulation”
In November 2012, through FIP’s Pharmabridge program, Michael Anisfeld presented a series of lectures in Sri Lanka to local regulators and industry professionals on “GMP Basics”, Good Documentation Practices”, “Fundamentals of Validation” and “Quality Control Labs GMPs”.
IPS held its first webinar in November 2012, “Preparing for and passing a National Regulatory Agency Inspection”. 25 participants from 5 continents listened to this important topic presented by IPS Vice President Mike Anisfeld and the evaluation was very positive.
Awards
- The IPS medal 2012 was awarded to Ali Afnan from the UK, now living in the US.
- The Mike How Travel Award winner for 2012 was Ms. Zehra Ceren Ertekin from Turkey.
- Lizbeth Martinez (University of Basel, Switzerland) won the oral communication competition for young pharmacists.
- Angela Faustino Jozala (Brazil) and Ammar A.R. Kubba (Irag) shared the Best Industrial Pharmacy Poster Prize.
Publications
Four IPS Newsletters, Vol 9 No 1-4 2012, have been distributed. IPS also provides the journal Industrial Pharmacy to its members.
Review of WHO Guidance
IPS has continued to participate in the review of draft WHO Guidelines and channeled our comments back via FIP.
