What is Pharmacovigilance?

Pharmacovigilance is the practice of using scientific methods to track, record and analyze the effects of pharmaceuticals, with a focus on determining and maintaining the quality and safety of consumer medicines. Pharmacovigilance programs that monitor drug safety in the marketplace often have to deal with counterfeit drugs, because counterfeits skew the apparent performance of otherwise safe pharmaceuticals.

What does pharmacovigilance involve?

Pharmacovigilance fulfill a number of needs, including:

monitoring of pharmaceutical products and their effects over time
identification of possible risks and adverse effects
analysis of medical information to track effects
informing the public and healthcare professionals of this information

Who is practicing Pharmacovigilance?

There are many organizations in the U.S. and the international community that have pharmacoviligance programs designed to monitor drug use statistics, identify risks and adverse effects, and educate the medical, scientific and lay communities regarding drug safety to best protect the health of patients. Some of these organizations include:

Are there jobs in pharmacovigilance?

There are many jobs available in the pharmacovigilance field these days, and a search of most employment sites will reveal several listings in the United States and internationally. Entry-level positions require some experience in drug safety programs and degrees with a science background, preferably in pharmacy or nursing.