Pharmacovigilance system and the future challengesin India-A Perspective

Abstract

PVPI is the science of collecting, monitoring, researching, assessing and evaluating information from healthcare providers and patients on the adverse effects of medications, biological products, blood products, herbals, vaccines, medical device, traditional and complementary medicines with a view to identifying new information about hazards associated with products and preventing harm to patients. This article provides a brief overview about the current situation and the future challenges of pharmacovigilance in India. The importance of implementing proper pharmacovigilance in the Indian scenario has been analysed the first recognised attempt to start pharmacovigilance activities in India dates back to 1986, when a formal Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) monitoring system with 12 regional centres for a population of 50 million each, was proposed. However, the system did not come into existence. In 1997, India joined the World Health Organization’s ADR Monitoring Programme based in Uppsala, Sweden. The Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) maintains an international database of suspected adverse drug reaction reports from all over the world to support good decision-making regarding the benefits and risks of treatment options for patients taking medicines.