In yet another strategic move that will further strengthen the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), the Indian Medical Association (IMA) recently extended full co-operation to enhance the programme. The Association will be closely working with the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) to train and sensitise the medical community to ensure timely and efficient reporting of all the adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
Keeping in mind the important role that clinicians can play as a significant partner in reinforcing the pharmacovigilance, IPC which is the National Coordination Centre (NCC) for PvPI had recently organised a meeting with top representatives of the IMA at IPC Ghaziabad. It was also proposed during the meeting that IMA - CGP headquarters at Chennai will be recognised as PvPI collaborating centre for safe use of medicines.
The meeting was chaired by Dr G N Singh, DCGI in which he emphasised the great role that IMA could possibly play in expanding the PvPI and its outreach to the rural and urban populations. Most importantly, Dr Singh stressed that IMA can greatly work towards ensuring full support of the private practitioners and hospitals alike to assure that the PvPI truly extends to the entire medial segment. Greatly appreciating the efforts taken by the IMA for coming forward to join hands with PvPI, he added that since doctors have direct contact with their patients they can be one of the major contributors to ensure proper monitoring and reporting of the ADRs across the country.
Dr V Kalaiselvan, principal scientific officer, IPC pointed out that medical fraternity has always been striving to save their patients from preventable causes of drug adversities. Most importantly, their role in preventing untoward and unwanted effects of medical interventions that are primarily designed to cure, treat, or diagnose morbidities on patients, makes them the natural partner for the successful implementation of this programme.
“Adverse drug reactions are a major public health issue and safety of drugs is a major concern, thus it is essential that we have an efficient system that helps in early detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of ADRs or any other medicine related problem. Who else than the doctors can play an important role in this area? Considering all this facts, it was decided that IMA and IPC will exchange the information in news bulletins, present the updates in their annual meetings and conferences and vice versa to sensitise everyone involved about the recent developments,” he informed.
Dr J A Jayalal, national coordinator of the academic wings of IMA, said that he was impressed with the work of PvPI and agreed on the significant role that medical practitioners can play in pharmacovigilance.
He added that clinicians should come forward to involve themselves in this program for the national cause and stressed that IMA College of General Practitioners (CGP), would be glad to extend its technical and operational support to PvPI.
The meeting was attended by Dr A Raja Rajeshwar, honorary national secretary, IMA-CGP; Dr J Vijay Venkatraman, pharmacovigilance expert from IMA and key CDSCO officials.