Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) recently made a set of recommendations to the government for optimizing patient safety measures through active involvement of nursing professionals in the pharmacovigilance programme. These recommendations are aimed at broadening their role in the detection, management, reporting and prevention of the ADRs at pan India level.

Since nursing professionals play a major role in the healthcare system, IPC which acts as the national co-ordinating centre (NCC) for PvPI has been working pro actively to broaden their scope in the pharmacovigilance by sensitizing them. Dr Kalaiselvan informed that there is a strong census among experts seeking prompt action from the authorities to explore options that will enable greater role for the nurses.

To enable this transition, experts feel that it is imperative to start including nurses into the various committees set up by the government. In this regard IPC-NCC has recommended the government to set up a panel consisting of 21 members from healthcare sector including nursing experts to advise the PvPI about the safety efficacy of the drugs for making drugs safe.

They also suggested that one nursing expert should be recommended as a member of the re constituted steering committee of the PvPI to enable their active involvement in the whole process. Further keeping in mind their strategic role in the healthcare delivery system, IPC feels that chief nursing staff should act as a member of the PvPI panel in all the ADR monitoring centres (AMCs).

Earlier this month, Dr Jagdish Prasad, the director general of health services (DGHS) had directed all the healthcare authorities across the state and the Union Territories (UTs) to conduct programmes aimed at sensitizing the nurses on the role they can play in strengthening it. To facilitate their active participation in the ADRs, DGHS urged all the health authorities from the state and UTs to approach nearby ADR monitoring centres (AMCs) functioning under the PvPI for any technical assistance or pharmacovigilance related details.

To further reinforce and develop a strong ADR culture in the healthcare system, experts want all the stakeholders to be sensitized about the process of inducting nurses into PvPI, why should they report ADRs and other regulatory aspects associated with it.