Pharmacovigilance (PV), as defined by the WHO, refers to the science and activities involved in the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or other drug related problems. PV plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety and drug efficacy. It is an integral part of the healthcare system, focusing on the assessment, monitoring, and identification of medication interactions and their impact on humans. While pharmaceutical and biotechnological treatments are designed to cure, prevent, or manage diseases, they also carry potential risks, particularly adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which can sometimes be life- threatening. Therefore, monitoring ADRs is essential throughout a drug's lifecycle, encompassing pre-marketing phases, initial drug discovery, clinical trials, and post-marketing surveillance.
Adverse events recorded through PV systems are highly beneficial to public health. These systems enable efficient electronic communication with reporters and facilitate the exchange of knowledge with healthcare practitioners, making them a vital bridge between the population and public health experts. Ultimately, PV not only supports patient recovery but also helps manage or prevent illnesses effectively. Medication safety remains a collective responsibility involving the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory authorities, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals, all working together to enhance public health outcomes