Published Paper Details:

Pharmacovigilance is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and other medicine-related problems. It plays a critical role in ensuring drug safety throughout a drug's lifecycle. Despite its importance, under-reporting of ADRs remains a significant global challenge due to factors such as lack of time and awareness among healthcare professionals. The WHO has initiated programs to promote ADR reporting and enhance drug safety monitoring. The history of pharmacovigilance highlights its evolution, including the thalidomide tragedy of the 1960s, which underscored the necessity of stringent drug safety protocols. In India, pharmacovigilance began formally in 1986 and has since developed into a robust system supported by WHO and the National Pharmacovigilance Program. Pharmacovigilance is essential to identify rare and long-term adverse effects, especially in vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The primary goals of pharmacovigilance include early detection of ADRs, risk-benefit analysis, and educating healthcare professionals and patients about safe drug use. Addressing ADRs requires systematic documentation, reporting, and monitoring to ensure safer medicines and improve patient care. While challenges such as under-reporting persist, the collective efforts of healthcare providers and regulators can strengthen pharmacovigilance systems worldwide. This abstract emphasizes the importance of pharmacovigilance in safeguarding public health and highlights its impact on enhancing drug safety through effective ADR monitoring and reporting.