Promoting the Quality of Medicines (PQM) FY 2016 First Quarter Report

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), PQM is the successor to the Drug Quality and Information (DQI) program, implemented by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP). The program achieves three main goals: building local capacity in medical quality-assurance systems, increasing the supply of medicines to USAID health programs, and ensuring the quality and safety of medicines globally. PQM provides technical assistance to developing countries, focusing on four intermediate result areas: national regulatory systems strengthened, availability of quality medicines increased, amount of substandard and falsified medicines and medical devices reduced, and global advocacy on medicines quality enhanced through technical leadership. The program operates in multiple regions, including Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Latin America and the Caribbean. In the first quarter of FY 2016, PQM made significant progress in strengthening medicines quality control. The program conducted 12 training workshops in 8 countries, provided equipment and supplies to 12 laboratories, and installed, calibrated, and qualified 50 laboratory instruments and equipment. Additionally, PQM assisted 42 companies in 14 countries in implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). PQM also made progress in increasing the availability of quality medicines. The program assisted 18 labs in 13 countries in implementing Quality Management Systems (QMS), and supported 14 countries (122 sentinel sites) in Medicines Quality Monitoring (MQM). Furthermore, PQM assisted 42 companies in 14 countries in implementing GMP, and prequalified 1 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and 2 Finished Pharmaceutical Products (FPPs). The program's accomplishments in strengthening medicines quality control and increasing the availability of quality medicines are critical to ensuring the quality and safety of medicines globally. PQM's progress in the first quarter of FY 2016 demonstrates the program's commitment to addressing critical issues related to poor quality medicines and improving public health outcomes in developing countries. PQM's work in multiple regions has been instrumental in strengthening national regulatory systems, increasing the availability of quality medicines, and reducing the amount of substandard and falsified medicines and medical devices. The program's technical leadership has also enhanced global advocacy on medicines quality, contributing to improved public health outcomes worldwide. The PQM program's progress in the first quarter of FY 2016 is a testament to the program's effectiveness in addressing critical issues related to poor quality medicines. The program's continued efforts to strengthen medicines quality control, increase the availability of quality medicines, and reduce the amount of substandard and falsified medicines and medical devices will be crucial in ensuring the quality and safety of medicines globally.