‘Sri Lanka Pharma Week’ to be held in December

A set of three consecutive conferences addressing the evolving factors affecting the pharmaceutical industry and its future is currently being organised and is to kick off in December 2012 in Colombo. Organised by the largest pharmaceutical industry event organiser, CPhI, part of the worldwide UBM group, the event is being held in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka.

The three conferences at Sri Lanka Pharma Week, being held from 3 to 7 December, will address the industry’s evolving issues of bioavailability and bioequivalence requirements, pharma medical detailing force effectiveness and automation, and supply chain and distribution.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) is the professional body of pharmacists in Sri Lanka, with over 1,000 members. This society is committed to uplift the professional and ethical standards of the pharmaceutical sector in Sri Lanka.

Shalutha Athauda, President of PSSL, said, “The pharmaceutical sector in Sri Lanka is going through changes in terms of regulation and operations. All the stakeholders who are professionally involved in the different functions of the industry need to upgrade their knowledge and this is our sincere effort in providing a platform to gain awareness of global standards, by collaborating with expert global organisations.”

During Sri Lanka Pharma Week, the conferences will highlight, through practical case studies, how the industry can implement the recent regulatory changes in bioavailability and bioequivalence requirements – one of the key issues driving momentous change and debate in the industry today. The programs will also facilitate a neutral, content rich and knowledge sharing platform for the industry, detailing force and supply chain functions.

Throughout the week, international experts will share their insights into the three key areas being addressed, whilst demonstrating relevant procedures through case studies and speeches. K. Shivkumar, Managing Director, Eisai Pharmaceuticals India said, “Medical detailing force effectiveness and automation will be the key in exploiting the expanding pharmaceutical market in Sri Lanka.

“Medical detailing force effectiveness and automation will help in targeting the right customers by answering key questions like which markets, which target audience, why and how, how often and with the right message.  Developing excellent medical detailing force effectiveness and automation strategies will decide who will be the winners and losers.”

Himanshu Saxena, Vice President Supply Chain International Business, Alembic Pharmaceuticals stated, “Supply chain and distribution is the most critical aspect of the pharmaceutical business to ensure that drugs are delivered to the end patient quickly and in a safe condition.”

He added, “Even if the manufacturing and production of drugs is done using GMP norms, the products remain unfit for consumption if the safety of the drugs is compromised en route to the end patient. Also, since pharmaceutical organisations in Sri Lanka are custodians of the products, it is imperative that they ensure an efficient distribution network so that patients can consume quality drugs in time.

“Emerging countries like Sri Lanka can draw learning from new and innovative strategies adopted by countries like India who have passed this stage, despite dealing with similar infrastructure challenges. At this forum, Indian pharma supply chain experts will be sharing practical and implementable technologies designed to manage the supply chain to effectively maintain adequate stocks and manage ever-changing demand cycles. This would eventually reduce the pressure on the business and ensure that sales are not affected.”

Bansri Shah, Managing Director, from the organisers UBM (CPhI) bringing this knowledge forum to Sri Lanka in association with PSSL, said, “We are grateful to Athauda (President) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka for their help and support towards the development of Sri Lanka Pharma Week.

“It also gives me immense pleasure to bring our largest brand, CPhI, to this rapidly growing industry in Sri Lanka and we would like to extend a warm invitation to the pharmaceutical fraternity to participate in this vital knowledge sharing endeavour.”

The Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) is the professional body of pharmacists in Sri Lanka with over 1,000 members. This society is committed to uplift the professional and ethical standards of the pharmaceutical sector of Sri Lanka.

CPhI is the world’s largest event organiser for the pharmaceutical industry bringing together since 1990 over 250,000 attendees and 4,000 exhibitors from over 133 countries.

The flagship event held in Europe each year hosts 2,200 exhibitors and is the market leader for the pharmaceutical ingredients industry as well as the pharmaceutical machinery, packaging, analytical instrumentation, laboratory equipment and outsourcing verticals. Large scale exhibitions and content-led conferences also take place in India, South East Asia, China, Latin America and Turkey throughout the year.

UBM is a global live media and B2B communications, marketing services and data provider.

For further details about participating at Sri Lanka Pharma Week 2012, please contact the organisers via [email protected] or +91 (0) 22 4046 1466, or their local representative in Colombo, Sri Lanka at [email protected].