Abstract :
The Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) was launched by Central Drug Standard
Control Organization under the tutelage of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in July
2010. The main obstacle is under reporting which curbs the functioning of PvPI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To
identify practical approaches towards increasing effectiveness of PvPI in order to formulate a practicable rather
than ideal on-paper plan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After discussing various issues in regular clinical
meets at our institute (NKPSIMS, Nagpur, M.S.) realistically implementable recommendations were taken into
considerations without being overenthusiastic to contribute towards PvPI. Some of them were tested at our
institute like compulsion for each undergraduate student to report at least two Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs),
lectures, Continued Medical Education (CME) and workshops on Pharmacovigilance. RESULTS: The results of
these interventions were more than encouraging since we saw increased reporting, although results of some
interventions were not quantitatively measurable. CONCLUSION: The present study has looked into several
major aspects of the issue of underreporting of ADRs, and we suggest credible and practically executionable
recommendations at each level of healthcare in order to increase reporting and help PvPI serve its purpose- to
increase patient safety in terms of drug related problems. The present paper is a clamor for action by the medical
fraternity and the regulatory establishments.
Keyword :
Pharmacovigilance, interventions