Abstract

Introduction: The pharmacovigilance mission to ensure drug safety has faced challenges such as limited awareness among healthcare professionals and the public, underreporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR), and the need for a cohesive reporting culture. Pharmacovigilance Week celebration under the aegis of the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) serves as a pivotal platform to address critical gaps in ADR reporting awareness and boost public confidence in pharmacovigilance practices. Department of Pharmacology, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University celebrated Pharmacovigilance Week from 17th to 23rd September of each year since 2021. The four-year celebration of Pharmacovigilance Week sought to bridge these gaps through the themes of awareness, boosting public confidence, and encouraging a culture of ADR reporting.
Report Summary: The comprehensive program incorporated sensitization sessions, awareness campaigns, panel discussions, and creative competitions (poster creation, essay writing, video-making) to engage diverse stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, students and the community. The integration of ADR reporting forms into hospital systems and public outreach through multimedia displays and pamphlets ensured a multi-pronged approach to dissemination. A total of 1,396 people participated in the 4-year pharmacovigilance week celebrations. Ninety-two percent felt the knowledge gained would help them in the future. Forty percent rated the pharmacovigilance training as excellent, and 60% rated it as good.
Conclusion: Pharmacovigilance Week celebrations foster a strong culture of Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting among patients, healthcare professionals, students from various disciplines and the community, which is crucial for enhancing patient safety and care quality.

Key words: Pharmacovigilance, Adverse drug reaction (ADR), Pharmacovigilance week celebration, Pharmacovigilance programme of India (PvPI).