SANTA FE – The state Interagency Pharmaceuticals Purchasing Council will hold its first meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday in Room 322 of the Capitol. To link to a webcast of the meeting, go to the council’s web page at https://www.generalservices.state.nm.us/ippc.aspx 

The goals of the council include coordination of cost-containment strategies for the purchase of pharmaceuticals. The 11 members of the council include representatives of the: 

• Human Services Department.
• Department of Health.
• Children, Youth and Families Department.
• Department of Corrections.
• Risk Management Division of the General Services Department.
• Retiree Health Care Authority.
• Public School Insurance Authority.
• Albuquerque Public Schools.
• University of New Mexico. 

Two representatives of local government also serve on the council. 

The council is administratively attached to the General Services Department, and GSD Cabinet Secretary Ken Ortiz serves as director of the council. 

The council was created this year by legislation passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. State Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, sponsored the legislation.