# Drug quality assurance database (PharmaQC) information

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/f1afe3a5-5f7e-43af-9a04-85f5968b18b0
Type: Guidance
Published: March 4, 2011
Updated: June 25, 2021

> The PharmaQC database is a critical tool used by the NHS Commercial Medicines Unit (CMU) to facilitate the procurement and quality assessment of pharmaceutical products during the tendering process. This guidance outlines the functionalities of the system for various stakeholders, including pharmaceutical suppliers, quality control (QC) pharmacists, and CMU buyers. Suppliers are responsible for entering detailed product information into the supplier-facing website, which then enables QC pharmacists to perform quality assessments and search across available offerings. Furthermore, CMU buyers utilize the aggregated data to evaluate potential supply chain risks associated with specific products. A significant portion of the guidance focuses on technical access requirements. The database is optimized for Internet Explorer 8.0. To ensure compatibility with more modern versions of the browser, users are instructed to enable 'Compatibility View' for the cmu.nhs.uk domain. This involves navigating to the Tools menu within Internet Explorer, adding the specific URL to the Compatibility View settings, and ensuring all relevant configuration checkboxes are selected. These technical adjustments are necessary for users to reach the login screen and interact with the database effectively. While the document does not list regulatory violations or specific inspection dates, it establishes the operational framework for maintaining quality standards and supply chain integrity within the UK pharmaceutical procurement process.

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## Content

The PharmaQC database provides information about products on offer for tender so they can be assessed by QC pharmacists and CMU buyers. Pharmaceutical suppliers can enter details of their individual products offered for tender on the PharmaQC supplier website . QC pharmacists can then quality assess the products available and search across all supplier products using the PharmaQC trusts website . Buyers can also assess supply chain risks by reviewing data. Accessing the PharmaQC websites You will need to use the Internet Explorer ( IE ) browser to access the websites. The sites are designed to work with IE 8.0 only. If you have a more recent version of IE , you can access the sites in ‘compatability view’. To do this, in IE : click the ‘Tools’ button click ‘Compatability View settings’ under ‘Add this website’ enter cmu.nhs.uk and click ‘Add’ make sure the 2 check boxes at the bottom of the screen are ticked reload the page or try the link again to view the login screen

## Attachments

- [Drug supplier database: pharmaQC user guide](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60d5e01fd3bf7f7c32effc9e/PharmaQC_supplier_user_guide_-_June_2021.pdf)