Pharmacovigilance (PV) is defined as the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem. WHO established its Programme for International Drug Monitoring in response to the thalidomide disaster detected in 1961.

The aims of PV are to enhance patient care and patient safety in relation to the use of medicines; and to support public health programmes by providing reliable, balanced information for the effective assessment of the risk-benefit profile of medicines.

IMA-PvPI Pharmacovigilance Initiative

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), National Coordination Centre (NCC) for Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) have initiated the ways to promote Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) reporting in the country.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India which was created to set standards of medicines commonly used for treatment of diseases prevailing in our country. The IPC has been functioning as the NCC for PvPI since 15th April 2011 to monitor all adverse drug reactions taking place in the country. The mission of PvPI is to safeguard the health and welfare of the Indian population by monitoring drug safety and ensuring that the benefits of use of medicine outweigh the associated risks. IMA is the only representative, national voluntary organization of doctors of modern scientific system of medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well–being of the community at large.

IMA-PvPI Pharmacovigilance will work towards promoting patient safety in the country. They have agreed to cooperate and work together on the following:

Ø  PvPI–IMA patient safety monitoring cell to be started at the IMA Head Quarters in New Delhi

Ø  Organizing Continuing Medical Educations (CMEs),

Ø  IMA to identify the nodal centers for education/advocacy and ADR monitoring and recommend to NCC–PvPI for recognition

Ø  Providing training to the nodal coordinators and medical officers

Ø  Development and up-gradation of a mobile app. for ADR monitoring

Ø  To propagate the concept of drug safety to patients.Emedinews

Under the IMA-PvPI initiative, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has become a nodal centre for reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) under the Pharmaco Vigilance Programme of India (PvPI).

IMA is compiling the data of ADR related to drugs/ vaccines/ medical devices/ blood products & Herbals. One can contact IMA-PvPI ADR helpline and report any ADR/AE to Hammad Ali on Mobile No. +91-9717776514 from Monday till Friday from 9am to 5:30pm.

IMA Members should also report ADR Known or Unknown, Serious or Non – Serious due to Medicines, Vaccines, blood products, Herbal products and Medical Devices to PvPI Helpline No. 1800-180-3024 from Monday till Friday from 9am to 5:30pm.

IMA Members should also report ADR via PvPI ADR Android Mobile App (Download from Google Playstore).

Conclusion

IMA Members are committed to the safety of patients. Report ADR to safeguard your patient. This IMA-PvPI Pharmacovigilance Initiative propagate the concept of drug safety and continue its service.