In collaboration with Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), a Sweden-based independent foundation and a centre for scientific research and international capacity building, JSS University will organise two pharmacovigilance training courses in Mysore.

The first one namely '2nd ISoP UMC' training course will be held from January 12 to 14, 2015 and the second joint training namely 'First Asia Pacific pharmacovigilance training course' will be held from February 16 to 28, 2015.

The 2nd ISoP UMC is mainly focused on providing expert perspective and guidance on key elements of pharmacovigilance for the provision of risk management, with a focus on activities in emerging markets and it will cover topics such as pharmacovigilance beyond ADRs, pharmacovigilance of generics and biosimilars role of regulatory agencies and industries in pharmacovigilance, risk-benefit assessment and risk communication.

Dr G Parthasarathi, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor, Pharmacy Practice, JSS University, in an email interaction said, “ISoP UMC provides an opportunity for the participants to listen and interact with eminent pharmacovigilance experts across the globe. The topics covered provide solid practical foundations for the students who like to build up their career in pharmacovigilance.”

He said that there will be ample opportunity to exchange views and ideas with international experts and fellow participants from different parts of Asia. This may help pharmacy students to identify different job opportunities in pharmacovigilance across the globe

He said that the pharmacovigilance, a science relating to safety of drugs , helps in promoting safe use of medications and provides balanced information for the effective assessment of the risk-benefit profile of medicines.

“Further, it is very much growing globally specially in India and developing countries, more and more training and capacity building is required in this area', adds Dr Parthasarathi.

He confirmed that many students were showing interest to pursue their career in pharmacovigilance. There are plenty of job opportunities for medical and pharmacy students in this area to work as drug safety associates and other higher positions in pharma companies, contract research organisations and national regulatory agencies.

“Quite a few medical and pharmacy postgraduate students and Pharm D interns have already enrolled for the training course”, confirms Dr Parthasarathi.

The second joint 'First Asia Pacific pharmacovigilance training course' is to further develop effective and sustainable pharmacovigilance for member countries of the WHO international drug monitoring programme by creating a unique opportunity for learning and collaboration.

The course will include sessions to strengthen the overall WHO programme, and management component that is designed to help participants improve their capacity to influence sustainable change in their countries. Issues related to health economics, communications, fund raising and risk management would be covered. Training, built around lectures, workshops and hands-on exercises, will take place in an open and interactive environment.

International pharmacovigilance experts from the WHO, US FDA, WHO Collaborating Centers, UMC, JSS University and pharmacovigilance experts from reputed universities, academic institutions and pharmaceutical industries across India will lead the sessions.

This two-week course will have experts from the WHO, US FDA, UMC, JSS University and pharmacovigilance experts from reputed universities, academic institutions and pharmaceutical industries across India. The course is also tailored for representatives of national pharmacovigilance centres, ministries of health and public health programmes and for healthcare professionals such as physicians, pharmacists and nurses.