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In October 1990, a regional center for reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was established in Saskatchewan (SaskADR) as a pilot project for a revised national reporting system in Canada. SaskADR's development is described in this paper. During the first year of operation, SaskADR received 333 ADR reports, an approximately five-fold increase in the number of voluntary reports. In the four yearspreceding the pilot project, Canada's national ADR reporting program had received an average of 70 reports per year from Saskatchewan health care practitioners. The effect of regionalizing reporting was also assessed by comparing practitioners' responses to a questionnaire administered before (in 1990) and after (in 1991) SaskADR became operational; 355 pharmacists and 380 physicians responded to the questionnaire in both years. Based on questionnaire responses, the operation of SaskADR has had a positive impact, not only on the number of ADRs reported, but also on the familiarity ofpractitioners with procedures for reporting. Continuing efforts directed toward publicity and education are necessary, however, to ensure that the level of reporting remains high.

Using validated extraction and analytic methods, all but 2 of the 230 tested vials were found to be free of surface drug contamination. Pharmacy leaders need to take an active role in promoting the need for clean HD vials. Manufacturers should be required to provide their clients with data derived from externally validated analytic studies, reporting the level of HD contamination on the exterior of their vial products.

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