What is Pharmacovigilance?

Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities associated with the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems. It is a cornerstone of medication safety and an important aspect of public health. There are many different pharmacovigilance activities, but they all share the common goal of keeping patients safe.

Pharmacovigilance activities can be divided into three main categories:

* Drug safety surveillance: This is the ongoing monitoring of the safety of a medicine once it has been released onto the market. This can be done through clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance or other means.

* Risk management: This involves assessing the risks and benefits of a medicine and taking action to minimise the risks. This may include changing the way the medicine is used, or withdrawing it from the market altogether.

* Pharmacovigilance research: This is research into the causes and effects of adverse drug reactions. This research helps to improve our understanding of how medicines work and how they can be used safely. pharmacovigilance activities are important for ensuring the safety of medicines. They help to protect patients from the harmful effects of medicines and to ensure that the benefits of medicines outweigh the risks.