The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is soon planning to collaborate with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) institutions to promote new methodologies and research in the area of pharmacovigilance. This move is aimed at strengthening the Indian pharmacovigilence by identifying common grounds or projects that are focused towards bolstering relevant research to ensure the safety of medicines.

To strengthen and enhance their knowledge, IPC will be working with centres that are involved in research or studies in the area of evidence-based medicine or new methodologies using systematic searches of the medical literature and other pharmacovigilance resources. To spruce up its activities, IPC has already identified six ICMR institutions for this purpose, which will soon be recognised as PvPI collaborating centres, it is reported.

Through this initiative, IPC hopes to develop methodology that will aid in the understanding drug safety issues as well as identifying areas of additional research. There is a clear need to integrate new methodologies into pharmacovigilance to ensure best drug safety practices. Especially since it will open up more evidence to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of drugs, pointed out Dr V Kalaiselvan.

“We are currently discussing the modalities and area of focus for research activities based on our requirements and priority. Through this collaborative effort we intend to synergise our broad range of experience in pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology to bolster the country's PvPI initiative. We strongly feel that such an effort will go a long way in reinforcing drug safety measures when evaluating the efficacy of medications,” he added.

It is understood that research completed through investigations of these new methodologies can be used in future for withdrawal of products; conduct systematic reviews of adverse effects of drug interventions; evaluate reasons for under reporting of adverse drug reactions etc.