Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Abstract

Pharmacovigilance: Current Scenario in a Tertiary Care Teaching Medical College in North India

Hitesh Mishra and Vipin Kumar

Pharmacovigilance is defined as the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects of drugs, or any other drug-related problems. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has set up National Pharmacovigilance Programe (NPP) in 2004 with the goal to ensure the benefits of use of medicine and outweighs the risks and thus safeguards the health of the Indian population. After observing the Pharmacovigilance programme of our institution we found that the problems of underreporting and lack of awareness were prevalent in the community of health professionals. This study shows poor knowledge, attitude and practices of pharmacovigilance among medical professionals so there is urgent need to improve the awareness of Pharmacovigilance among the healthcare professionals. ADR reporting should be intensively taught during undergraduate study, and this should be reinforced at the start of internships as well as periodically thereafter through continuous education programs.