Abu Dhabi became the centre of global pharmaceutical regulation as experts, industry leaders and drug safety authorities from more than 50 countries gathered for the 2nd International Forum of Pharmaceutical Inspectorates (IFPI) held from November 24–25 at the Marriott Hotel Downtown.
Co-chaired for the second year by the Russian Federation, the Forum drew representatives from more than 50 countries. With medicines often manufactured in one country, packaged in another, and prescribed in a third, the Forum stressed that shared standards and transparent dialogue remain essential to global patient safety.
The program opened with high-level plenary sessions attended by heads of representatives of the regulatory authorities and experts from Russia, the UAE, France, Serbia, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, the US, Cuba, Chile, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ecuador, and others, and African nations participating in the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) initiative. Subsequent sessions focused on GMP regulatory challenges, the harmonisation of pharmaceutical production requirements, and approaches to mutual recognition of
GMP inspection results. Delegates also examined inspection mechanisms for biological products and strategies to improve access to modern medicines across different health systems.
Speakers at the event stressed that medicines are manufactured, packaged, and prescribed across borders, making shared standards and transparent regulatory cooperation essential for global patient safety.
“Cooperation between regulatory authorities increases the availability of high-quality, safe, and effective medicines while improving transparency,” said Vladislav Shestakov, Co-Chair of the Organising Committee and Director of the State Institute of Drugs and Good
Practices (SID & GP).
“Quality is not merely about inspections and reports—it begins with the mindset of its creators. Like classical music, achieving a pure sound requires professional instruments and
fine-tuning.”
Representing the UAE, Dr Shaikha Al Mazrouei, Director of the Reference National Laboratory at the Emirates Drug Establishment, noted that countries aiming to expand access to modern medicines and strengthen local pharmaceutical innovation must deepen harmonisation efforts.
“Today, we are discussing how regulatory harmonisation can help ensure that medicines are available to patients in our countries on faster and safer pathways. And, of course, the GxP practice system is the most important part, the core of the entire process. Closer integration into global regulatory processes and the development of digital healthcare are the tools that ensure the success of this movement. In this regard, the Forum provides an important chance for the entire GMP community to gather and discuss the challenges that we face and how we can help each other overcome them.”
This year’s Forum brought together GMP authorities, business leaders, and technical
experts to enhance transparency, support regulatory convergence, and strengthen global GMP oversight. The message—collaborate—resonated throughout keynotes and panel discussions, underscoring that interconnected health systems require unified regulatory approaches. As biotechnology advances, global supply chains expand, and AI reshapes healthcare, regulators must work together to safeguard the quality and safety of medicines. Participants included officials and regulators from about 50 countries—among them Jordan, Cuba, Indonesia, the UK, the US, China, India, Italy, Belgium, Denmark,
Serbia, Mongolia, and Turkey—alongside pharmaceutical manufacturers and international experts.
The Forum addressed critical areas shaping the global pharmaceutical landscape, including:
● Harmonisation of pharmaceutical manufacturing regulations and movement toward unified quality standards
● Access to modern medicines across diverse healthcare systems
● Regulatory trust, reliance, and mutual recognition of GMP inspections
● Inspection approaches for biological medicinal products and mechanisms for information
exchange
Dmitry Galkin, Director of the Department for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and Head of the Russian GMP Inspectorate, noted that the global regulatory environment is undergoing rapid transformation. With innovations—from gene therapy to antibody-based drugs—emerging at unprecedented speed, regulatory systems must adapt continuously.
“A new architecture of global pharmaceutical regulation is taking shape, where mutual recognition of inspections, data exchange, and comparable quality standards become key elements,” he said.
Beyond high-level panels, delegates joined technical workshops and case-study sessions designed to enhance inspection competencies. The Forum continues to position itself as a platform for shaping a unified GMP agenda and reinforcing trust among global regulators.
ASEAN’s commitment to regulatory convergence was highlighted by Dr Olga Lidia Jacobo Casanueva, Director of Cuba’s Centre for State Control of Medicines, and Prof. Dr Taruna Ikrar, Head of Indonesia’s FDA (BPOM), who praised the Forum’s role in strengthening global inspection systems.
“The IFPI Forum shows how collaboration can substantially elevate the quality, consistency and integrity of GMP inspections worldwide. Our shared efforts ultimately aim to improve access to safe and effective medicines for patients everywhere,” Prof. Ikrar said.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
