ROCKVILLE, Md--26 Apr--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ InfoQuest
Quality Standards for Medicines Play Key Role in Supporting Regional Public Health
As part of its on-going mission to advance global public health, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is co-hosting the 1st ASEAN-USP Scientific Symposium, "Quality of Medicines for Public Health," which will take place on April 26-27, 2011, in Bangkok, Thailand. Representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) References Task Force of the ASEAN Working Group on Pharmaceutical Development, the Bureau of Drug and Narcotic of the Department of Medical Sciences -- Thailand's national quality control
laboratory for testing the quality of medicines and narcotics -- has partnered with USP in organizing this inaugural meeting. Topics to be addressed include the adulteration of medicines, methods for analyzing and validating ingredients in drug products, and the science of reference material development, as well as USP's activities in these arenas. The Symposium is expected to draw interest from regulators, quality control scientists and manufacturers from across the ASEAN region.
As a scientific, non-profit public health organization, USP develops standards for the quality, purity, strength and identity of medicines, food ingredients and dietary supplements. In the United States, USP's standards are enforceable by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. USP's standards are used in more than 130 countries throughout the world.
According to Roger L. Williams, M.D., USP's chief executive officer, "USP is committed to the goal of advancing global public health. As we collaborate with our ASEAN partners in helping to ensure the availability of quality medications in this region, an open scientific exchange regarding medicines standards is critical. It is USP's hope that stakeholders from the ASEAN region will find this forum to be of value in their efforts within their own nations in enhancing drug quality control capabilities."
"This meeting underscores the importance of ASEAN countries to communicate with one another and our global partners like USP regarding quality medicines in our region," said Sathaporn Wongjaroen, M.D., director general of the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand. "While many public health issues we face are unique to our individual nations, the availability of good standards to help ensure the quality of medicines throughout the ASEAN region is a concern that all our nations share."
Countries in the ASEAN region and USP have collaborated in recent years to support efforts related to public health. Memoranda of understanding among the partners have identified scientific exchange as a key component for furthering working relationships. Joint work plans between USP and its ASEAN counterparts also focus on the development of ASEAN reference standards (very pure physical samples), the promotion of laboratory conformity assessments and accreditation, science-based training in modern measurement and
calibration techniques, and capacity building within national quality control laboratories.
For more information, please contact
[email protected] .
USP -- Advancing Public Health Since 1820
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific, nonprofit, standards-setting organization that advances public health through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods. USP's standards are recognized and used worldwide. For more information about USP visit http://www.usp.org.
CONTACT:
Theresa Laranang-Mutlu
301/816-8167
[email protected]
SOURCE: U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention
AsiaNet 44346
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