Pharmacovigilance and WHO

Pharmacovigilance has a huge role to play in ensuring(UMC) in Sweden.Their chief function is to manage an
drug safety and safety of patients.The WHO, whichinternational database of ADR reports from national
is the chief body of health works with thecenters.Almost all national centers have electronic
collaboration of Centre for International Drugaccess to the database.On behalf of the WHO, the
Monitoring and promotes pharmacovigilance atUMC has established standardized reporting of all
country level.National Centers and has facilitated communication
Pharmacovigilance is a science of drug reaction. Itsbetween countries to promote speedy signal
chief aim is to study the reaction of the drug onidentifica.
patients.It involves detection of ill effects ofAt the national level, the manufacturers and
medicines on patients, assessment, research andregulatory bodies work in coordination with healthcare
prevention of adverse drug side effects onprofessionals to manufacture safe drugs and also to
patients.World Health Organization defines it as "Therecord incidents of adverse reactions of medicines on
science and activities relating to the detection,patients.The cyclic process of reporting, assessment,
assessment, understanding and prevention ofresearch and recording by international healthcare
adverse effects or possible drug-relatedcenters again follows.
problems."The process is carried out either byIn the whole system,the World Health Organizations
pharmaceutical companies on their products or byacts as the chief investigation body and quality
government agencies on all medicinal products.assurance body which qualifies safe drugs in an
In monitoring safety of drugs, the WHO works withattempt to ensure drug safety and patient safety
its collaborating center,Uppsala Monitoring Centeracross different countries.