Antigua and Barbuda has joined health regulators from around the world at the inaugural Global Drug Regulatory Conclave in New Delhi, India, where Director of Pharmaceutical Services and Chief Drug Inspector Alfred Athill is representing the country.

The two-day conference, held on July 30 and 31 at Bharat Mandapam, has brought together approximately 60 delegates from 40 countries to discuss the future of pharmaceutical regulation and strengthen international cooperation on global health issues.

The conclave is jointly organised by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Senior officials from national drug regulatory authorities, policymakers, industry leaders and representatives of international agencies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), are participating in the discussions.

Key topics on the agenda include regulatory convergence, market authorisation pathways, drug safety and pharmacovigilance, quality assurance, regulatory reliance, emerging technologies and strategies to strengthen the resilience of global pharmaceutical supply chains.

The gathering also highlights India’s continued efforts to position itself as the “Pharmacy of the World” by promoting its pharmaceutical industry and expanding its role as a global supplier of medicines.

Athill’s participation provides Antigua and Barbuda with an opportunity to stay abreast of evolving international regulatory standards and emerging trends in pharmaceutical oversight.

Upon his return, he is expected to share the knowledge and insights gained from the conclave with fellow members of the Pharmacy Council, the country’s pharmaceutical regulatory authority, as efforts continue to strengthen the nation’s drug regulatory systems and enhance public health safeguards.