Pharmacovigilance Opportunities in India

India is popularly known as one of the largest producers and exporter of pharmaceuticals in the world with more than 8000 licensed drug manufacturers recruiting pharmacovigilance professionals.

Scope of Pharmacovigilance

Pharmacovigilance involves activities related to understanding assessment, detection and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems Pharmacovigilance is a continuous process accepted for safety evaluation accompanied by steps to improve safe usage of medicines. Pharmacovigilance is a science important to reverse most of the adverse effects by modifying the dose or omitting the offending drug. Pharmacovigilance knowledge on safety of drugs is obtained from clinical usage practiced daily involving patients, health professionals, regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacovigilance in companies is characterised in monitoring safety of the drug post launch.

Medicines have improved population health and quality of life. So as to be extra vigilant on medicines developed that can actually treat diseases without hindrance, risk associated with these medicines should be accounted for even though large numbers of people experience no evident effect from the drugs. Increasingly importance of pharmacovigilance worldwide can help avoid recurrences of serious and costly drug-related problems having damaging effects. Pharmacovigilance becomes an important prerequisite for the progress of medicine and pharmacovigilance information should be harnessed properly to aid drug development and marketing. Crucial data should be designed and provided to understand the short or long-term working effects of drugs in medical practice. Patients, prescribers, healthcare companies and regulatory agencies have high expectations from pharmacovigilance.

Pharmacovigilance Opportunities in India

The implementation and incorporation of pharmacovigilance is growing slowly and steadily in the Indian healthcare system along with increasing awareness among patients and health professionals. Indian companies are increasing efforts and investment in research and development to enhance the capacity of developing and marketing new drugs that meet pharmacovigilance requirement of Indian regulatory authorities. The purpose of pharmacovigilance in India is to recommend regulatory interventions, communicate risks to healthcare professionals and public obtained by data collected, collated and analyzed; improve patient care and safety; contribute in assessing benefit, effectiveness and risk of medicines; promote education and clinical training on safe and rational use of medicines. The need to formulate a comprehensive pharmacovigilance system in India is necessary to protect the population from potential harm and adverse effects of drugs.

Pharmacovigilance is associated with life science and pharmacy to provide unique careers to pharmacovigilance professionals that assess, monitor, detect and prevent adverse effects of drugs. This scientific discipline with role to analyse the side effects of drugs and monitor the safety of drugs available in the market touches the sectors of healthcare and pharmacy. Candidates with life sciences degree in zoology, botany, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry or genetics are eligible to pursue a career in pharmacovigilance. Graduated candidates are hired for different positions in pharmaceutical companies along with acquiring few job opportunities in the public sector. The responsibilities of pharmacovigilance professional include conducting the risk-benefit analysis; tracking all drug related reports; reviewing and assessing all drug related documents; entering database reports and performing label assessment.