The Indian Pharmacopeia Commission (IPC), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with KMCH College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, organized a one-day seminar on “Ensuring Quality and Safety of Blood Components in Transfusion Medicine” on Tuesday.
The event marked a historic milestone, as the Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 became the first pharmacopoeia in the world to include standards for blood and blood components, setting a new benchmark in transfusion medicine and regulatory science.
Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, Chairman and Managing Director of Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH), was the chief guest and delivered the inaugural address. Dr. Thavamani D. Palaniswami, Managing Trustee of Dr. NGP Research and Educational Trust, presided over the inaugural session, while Rajasekaran, Principal of KMCH College of Pharmacy, delivered the welcome address.
The keynote address was given by Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC, highlighting the importance of pharmacopoeial standardization in strengthening transfusion safety. Other dignitaries felicitated during the event included Dr. Arun N. Palaniswami, Executive Director, KMCH, and Kalaivani, Principal Scientific Officer, IPC.
The seminar featured expert sessions by Kalaivani, Marimuthu, Assistant Director of Drugs Control, Coimbatore zone; Dr. Gokhula Prasath, Consultant, Department of Transfusion Medicine, KMCH; and Dr. Shyam Kumar, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Ganga Hospital Blood Centre, covering pharmacopoeial standards, regulatory frameworks, quality assurance, and haemovigilance.
Around 400 delegates participated, including regulators, transfusion medicine experts, clinicians, blood centre professionals, academicians, and medical students from across India. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Suresh Kumar, Vice Principal of the college.
The seminar underscores India’s leadership in standardizing blood components and enhancing the safety and quality of blood transfusion services globally.
