The US Pharmacopeia (USP) has launched a free, online Medicines Compendium for use in India.

The initial focus on the compendium would be on developing standards for medicines approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI), Mr Roger L. Williams, Chief Executive Officer of USP, said in the inaugural session of Science and Standards Symposium jointly organised by USP and Indian Pharmacopeial Commission (IPC) here on Thursday.

The USP in India had a body of experts who would assess and approve standards for the compendium.

India had become a model for providing access to medicines for people. The USP is working closely with the Indian scientific community, he said.

Even in the US, 10-30 per cent of the prescription-based generic drugs were coming from India, he added.

Dr G.N. Singh, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC, said the relationship of IPC with USP was strengthening after an MoU for collaboration signed six years ago.

Mr Daara Patel, Secretary-General, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), said there was a need to reduce charges associated with USP's reference standards.

?They are very expensive,? he said, suggesting that they could be made in India to bring down the cost.

The two-day meet, being attended by over 250 delegates from industry, Government and other stake-holders, would discuss a wide range of issues such as quality standards for biologics, methods for detecting elemental impurities in the drugs.

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