Training and education in pharmacovigilance: The experience from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India

Abstract

For a robust Pharmacovigilance system in a country, training of healthcare professionals is of utmost importance. The training is the integral part of continual improvement in any quality management system. The present article describes the different training modules and experience from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and emphasizes that if training and education elements with special reference to pharmacovigilance are implemented for all concerned stakeholders in a healthcare system, the efficiency of deliverables will be improved and objectives of the organization can easily be achieved. The PvPI has been putting its best efforts to train healthcare professionals in pharmacovigilance and it has achieved new heights in establishing best practices for the other countries to follow for the development of pharmacovigilance system in their respective countries or regions. The aim of this article is to suggest how capacity building in a pharmacovigilance system can help low- and middle-income countries in area of pharmacovigilance. The authors tried to conceptualize the process and implementation of the training program under PvPI.