International Cooperation Activities

The JPMA carries out international cooperation activities under the concept "We contribute to the improvement in the supply of high quality drug products in developing countries by best utilizing the knowledge, know-how, and experience of experts." To this aim, the JPMA has focused mainly on capacity building in developing countries. For details of these activities, please refer to "Crossing International Borders to Promote Better Health," JPMA's March 2008 brochure.

The JPMAadopts a particular focus towards the people of Asia, as shown by programs such as the support for an anticounterfeiting project in Cambodia, and the training of government staff in GMP implementation and quality control, and training of HIV/AIDS experts in Cambodia and other Asian countries.

Anti-Counterfeiting Activity

Unauthorized pharmacy in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, June 2006

Unauthorized pharmacy in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, June 2006

Counterfeiting is a serious crime. In February 2006, WHO organized the International Medical Products Anti- Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) and initiated operations to eliminate counterfeit drugs globally.

In response, the JPMA established the Cambodian Ministry of Health-JPMA Combating Counterfeit Medicines Project in collaboration with the Drug Management and Policy Department, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science,Kanazawa University. The primary aim of this project is to develop effective countermeasures for combating counterfeit drugs by investigating the prevalence of counterfeit drugs, and to examine and identify the factors causing counterfeiting in Cambodia. Through this project, the JPMA are also able to help Cambodia improve its technology for both analyzing the quality of drug products and detecting counterfeit drugs. The JPMA will report on the performance and achievements of this project to IMPACT and consider developing it as a model example of JPMA and developing country collaboration.

Training Programs

The JPMA offers training courses to government personnel in developing countries engaged in pharmaceutical quality control. The aim is to facilitate human resource development in regulatory affairs and improve the quality of drug products in those countries. These courses are offered in Japan in cooperation with JPMA member companies, and overseas jointly with foreign organizations and institutions.

Training in Japan
JPMA activities cover mainly the practical aspects of drug quality control at research laboratories and manufacturing plants in cooperation with its member companies. Since the number of trainees is limited, the courses are highly focused on the knowledge and techniques needed. The training courses also serve as an opportunity to promote communication between the trainees and the Japanese pharmaceutical industry.

Contracted training in third countries
The JPMA also implements training at institutions in third countries on a contracted-out basis to reduce the burden on trainees from both a technical and training environment perspective. Since trainees can learn skills and knowledge at a slightly higher technical level than in their own countries, they are able to immediately practice what they learn on return to their home countries.

Donation of Analytical Instruments & Dispatch of Experts

Reinforcing the control of pharmaceutical products in Cambodia is urgently needed in view of the increased circulation of counterfeit and inferior-quality drugs. The JPMAreceived a request from the National Laboratory for Drug Quality Control (NLDQC), Cambodian Ministry of Health, to donate HPLC equipment. In cooperation with its member companies, the JPMA donated many analytical instruments to Cambodia and Laos, which had also made a request. Technical specialists (former staff of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited) visited both countries and provided technical guidance to laboratory staff on installing, adjusting, and operating the instruments.

The JPMA also donated an HPLC system and dissolution test apparatus to Kanazawa University for the analysis of samples collected in the Combating Counterfeit Medicines Project in Cambodia.

The JPMA supports developing countries by sending experts from Japan to expert meetings and drug-related projects sponsored or hosted by WHO and governments of developing countries. The JPMA also dispatches experts upon request from governments of developing countries for the transfer of manufacturing and pharmaceutical technology.

Support for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programs

Supply of Reference Substances to ASEAN Countries

Reference substances are extremely pure active ingredients of drugs essential for assaying the content of pharmaceutical substances in drug products and for quality control of drug products. Since 1987, with the support of the United Nations and WHO, ASEAN countries have been operating a program to prepare reference substances for assaying the strength of commercially available drugs, and for screening and eliminating inferior-quality drugs from the market. Currently, this project is administered by the Bureau of Drugs and Narcotics (BDN), Thai Ministry of Public Health. The JPMA has provided support to this project in cooperation with WHO since 1992 and funds the obtaining of reference substances from within the ASEAN region, such as from Thailand.