Importance of Pharmacovigilance

According to WHO, pharmacovigilance is defined as “science and activities relating to detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug related problem^.[1]

WHO defines "Adverse Effect" as “any undesirable or unintended consequence of drug administration†^[2].

The term Side Effect is often used synonymously but it precisely means unintended additional action of a drug which may even be therapeutically useful.

There is no drug without some or other adverse effect .It may develop either immediately or after prolonged use or even after stoppage of drug. Adverse effects are sometimes very rare. Even then, they play an important role in determining the therapeutic use of the drug.

It has been estimated that ADRs are responsible for death for nearly 50 out of every 1000 patients admitted to hospitals & cause nearly 5-7% of all hospital admissions.[3].The job of recording & studying these adverse effects is done by pharmacovigilance committee. Unfortunately, In India not all the clinicians & healthcare professionals are aware of this term and its importance.

This article enlightens the importance of pharmacovigilance among various health care professionals and some methods to increase its awareness.

Keywords—pharmacovigilance (PhV), adverse drug reactions(ADRs), side effects