August 21, 2014 - In a letter sent last week, the International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance, (IGPA) wrote to the members of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), seeking the status of an ICH Steering Committee member which would allow it to participate in harmonization of drug quality, safety, efficacy standards equally with the originator industry.

Brussels, 10 December 2013. The International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) hosted its 16^th Annual Conference “A Global Market - A Global Industry”. This event brought together more than 200 representatives from the pharmaceutical industry worldwide, European institutions, national authorities, and high level representatives from the IGPA. Addressing the audience, Laurette Onkelinx, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, stressed the invaluable contribution of generic medicines to society stating that the generic medicines sector is a “sustainable industry that can invest in quality”.

In an era when increasing demands are being made on the world’s healthcare services, generic medicines provide a major benefit to society by ensuring patient access to quality, safe and effective medicines while reducing the cost of pharmaceutical care. The International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) was born as an international network of generic medicines associations, committed to promoting generic medicines and exchanging information worldwide.