Pharmacovigilance Week spotlights safer, more rational use of medicines
The 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week, being observed from September 17–23, aims to strengthen adverse drug reaction reporting and expand pharmacovigilance across the country.
IPC Secretary-cum-Scientific Director Dr V. Kalaiselvan called for strengthening the pharmacovigilance network at the grassroots level. He said the aspiration is for every Aspirational District to have at least one ADR Monitoring Centre (AMC) and one Medical Device Monitoring Centre (MDMC).
GHAZIABAD: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has launched the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week (NPW), calling for stronger adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting and wider use of pharmacovigilance data to promote safer and more rational use of medicines.
Being observed across the country from September 17 to 23, the week carries the theme “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance – A Step Towards Safer Healthcare.” The campaign seeks to sensitise healthcare professionals, researchers and the public about ADR reporting and encourage greater participation in pharmacovigilance.
Focus on grassroots pharmacovigilance
IPC Secretary-cum-Scientific Director Dr V. Kalaiselvan called for strengthening the pharmacovigilance network at the grassroots level. He said the aspiration is for every Aspirational District to have at least one ADR Monitoring Centre (AMC) and one Medical Device Monitoring Centre (MDMC).
He also highlighted the need to make greater use of pharmacovigilance data, including exploring opportunities for drug repurposing and using safety information to support rational medicine use.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), stressed the importance of building adequate capacity to verify, assess and analyse safety reports so that pharmacovigilance data can effectively inform regulatory and clinical actions.
Expanding focus beyond medicines
The inaugural programme also featured discussions on the complementary roles of pharmacovigilance and materiovigilance in strengthening medication and patient safety.
Prof. Sangeeta Sharma of the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences spoke on pharmacovigilance and rational use of medicines, while Dr Abdul Nasser, Cardiac Anaesthesiologist at Max Hospital, Vaishali, addressed the role of the Medical Device Vigilance Programme of India (MvPI) in patient safety.
The programme also saw the release of Volume 16, Issue 2 (2026) of the PvPI Newsletter, highlighting the programme’s ongoing efforts to strengthen pharmacovigilance and public awareness of medicine safety.
The IPC serves as the National Coordination Centre for the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI).
