Understanding the need to streamline the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) will soon be extending its capacity by bringing more medical colleges, laboratories and hospitals into its fold. The commission, which acts as the National Coordinating Centre (NCC) for PvPI, is aiming to add 100 new Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) monitoring centres across the country by end of 2013.

To enable timely reporting of the adverse reactions of any given drug within the country, the centre plans to add at least 15 ADR centres by march and then work towards its aim to get the other 85 centres into the programme by the end of the year. At present, there are 60 ADR centres established across the country, in a phased manner, to monitor ADRs in the Indian population and create awareness amongst healthcare professionals about the importance of ADR reporting in India. With this addition, the total number of ADR centres dedicated for the pharmacovigilance programme is expected to be 165 in total.

Dr G N Singh, secretary cum scientific director of IPC, informed that the government has already allocated the Rs.250 crore for the same under the 12th five year plan, which they will be releasing, as and when required, to beef up the programme in the next five years time. IPC is also in the process of submitting a proposal to the government demanding more funds to boost the PvPI programme further to enable better scrutiny of the safety and efficacy of the medicines consumed within the country.

Dr Singh said, “We want to ensure that, over the next few years there are enough ADR centres across the country to monitor benefit and risk profiles of the medicines so that we can achieve our goal of ensuring public safety more aptly.”

Dr Singh who is also the drug controller general of India (DCGI) informed, “Understanding the need to protect the interest of the patients it is essential to upgrade our programme as per the changing requirements. Our main priority is the safety of our patients and thus all the steps will be taken to ensure that we have a strong system in place that will help us in analysing and recognising the ADRs in time.”

It is understood that, the WHO officials on their visit to India, for NRA assessment, are said to have pointed out the need to strengthen the PvPI programme further. Highly placed source from the centre informed that the government has already assured the WHO officials on their plans to take immediate steps to ensure better implementation of PvPI programme.