NEED OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE

Medicines safety is an important issue, Because of intense competition among pharmaceutical manufacturers, products may be registered and marketed in many countries simultaneously. As a result, adverse effects may not always be readily identified and so are not monitored systematically. Pharmacovigilance is a structured process for the monitoring and detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in a given context. Data derived from sources such as Medicines Information, Toxicology and Pharmacovigilance Centres have great relevance and educational value in the management of the safety of medicines. Medicine related problems, once detected, need to be assessed, analysed, followed up and communicated to regulatory authorities, health professionals and the public. Pharmacovigilance includes the dissemination of such information. In some cases, medicines may need to be recalled and withdrawn from a market, a process that entails concerted action by all those involved at any point in the medicines supply chain. Pharmacists have an important contribution to make to post-marketing surveillance and pharmacovigilance. The value of professional pharmacist services. Through its impact on individual patients’ state of health, pharmaceutical care improves the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care systems. Improvements at the micro-level impinge on the overall situation at the macro-level, i.e., communities benefit when individuals within them enjoy better health. Ultimately the population at large will also benefit as system-wide improvements occur. Pharmacists’ services and involvement in patient centered care have been associated with improved health and economic outcomes, a reduction in medicine-related adverse events, improved quality of life, and reduced morbidity and mortality.These accomplishments have been achieved through gradual expansion of traditional roles and, in some cases, through the emergence of collaborative drug therapy management programmes. Nonetheless, the potential for pharmacists to effect dramatic improvements in public health remains largely untapped. 

A recent review investigated the effectiveness of professional pharmacist services in terms of consumer outcomes, and where possible, the economic benefits. Its key findings illustrate the value of a range of services, including continuity-of-care after hospital discharge and education to consumers and to health practitioners. Overall, this review demonstrates that there is considerable high quality evidence to support 

the value of professional pharmacy services in improving patient outcomes or medication use in the community setting. Elsewhere, an Australian study on the economic impact of increased clinical intervention rates in community pharmacy found that adequately trained and remunerated pharmacists generated savings (on health care, medicines and pharmacy practice costs) six times greater than those of a control group with 

no access to the same education or remuneration. It was estimated that adequately trained and remunerated pharmacists would save the health care system 15 million Australian dollars (approx. US$100 million) a year.23 Similar findings are reported from the USA.

by
Akshaya Srikanth
Pharm.D Internee