PQM in Asia

AfricaRegional Actvities Around the World/PQM

PQM currently works in nine Asian countries. Key PQM regional accomplishments include:

  • Production of "Pharmacide", a series of four PSAs developed in multiple languages with USAID and Living Films Thailand to alert the public about the dangers of buying medicines outside of licensed pharmacies.
  • Hosting the visit of the coordinator of the President's Malaria Initiative to remote cross-border provinces in Thailand and Cambodia to see the positive impact of medicine quality monitoring (MQM) activities.
  • Data supplied by PQM-established medicines quality monitoring programs were used in regional police operations to close more than 100 pharmacies and illicit outlets in Southeast Asia. INTERPOL has also used such data in efforts to target the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit and substandard medicines. In one recent effort, more than 20 million fake and illegal medicines were seized.

Click on the links in the chart below to learn more about individual countries, their needs, and PQM activities.

CountryPQM Activities
Cambodia
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Maintaining and expanding a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Building capacity of the Official Medicine Control Laboratory (OMCL)
  • Conducting onsite training on test methods, Minilab® use, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, good distribution practices, and good storage practices
  • Raising awareness through communications campaigns
  • Conducting research
  • Establishing a pharmacovigilance program
  • Assisting INTERPOL on enforcement activities
  • Presenting workshops on medicine quality
  • Testing stored avian influenza medicines and mapping distribution channels
  • Providing technical assistance toward ISO 17025:2005 accreditation
India
  • Preparing manufacturers for WHO prequalification application
  • Conducting onsite training on GMP standards
Indonesia
  • Conducting GMP assessments and gap analysis
  • Preparing manufacturers for WHO prequalification application
  • Conducting onsite training on GMP standards
Laos
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
  • Conducting onsite training on test methods, Minilab® use, and HIV/AIDS medicines
  • Assisting INTERPOL on enforcement activities
  • Presenting workshops on medicine quality
  • Testing stored avian influenza medicines and mapping distribution channels
  • Raising awareness through communications campaigns
  • Providing technical assistance toward ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation
Myanmar/Burma
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
Nepal
  • Preparing manufacturers for WHO prequalification application
  • Conducting onsite training on GMP standards
  • Quality testing samples at USP lab
Philippines
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
  • Conducting onsite training on test methods, Minilab® use, and GMP standards
  • Preparing for WHO prequalification application
  • Providing services with a Center of Excellence
  • Providing technical assistance toward ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation
Thailand
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Building capacity of the OMCL
  • Conducting onsite training on test methods, Minilab® use, GMP Standards, good distribution practices, and good storage practices
  • Providing services with a Center of Excellence
  • Conducting research
  • Assisting INTERPOL on enforcement activities
  • Presenting workshops on medicine quality
  • Testing stored avian influenza medicines and mapping distribution channels
Vietnam
  • Assessing QA/QC systems and capacity
  • Establishing a MQM program as part of postmarketing surveillance
  • Conducting onsite training on test methods, Minilab® use, GMP standards, good distribution practices, and good storage practices
  • Preparing for WHO laboratory prequalification application
  • Presenting workshops on medicine quality
  • Testing stored avian influenza medicines and mapping distribution channels