drug safety services

Introduction to

Pharmacovigilance

and

Drug Safety

Medical science has grown in leaps and bounds since the days of Hippocrates. Modern day pharmaceutical drugs are really life-savers. They have increased life expectancy and improved the quality of life for millions of people. But there is the other side of the coin as well. These drugs sometimes have very adverse effects that can even be life-threatening. The drug Vioxx is a case in point.

 

What is pharmacovigilance?

There is a need to monitor the effects of drugs before and after it's successfully tested and launched in the market. Pharmacovigilance involves monitoring and assessing the quality of drugs; detecting and preventing any adverse effects of drugs. Pharmacovigilance involves evaluating information provided by healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and patients in order to understand the risks and benefits involved with a particular drug.

 

How does pharmacovigilance help the public?

Pharmacovigilance helps save thousands of lives each year. By monitoring the adverse effects of drugs right from the lab to the pharmacy and then on for many years, pharmacovigilance keeps track of any drastic effects of drugs. This way, it prevents harm to patients using those drug safety services.

 

How does pharmacovigilance help drug manufacturers?

Pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars and a considerably long-time in developing new drugs. They again spend a lot of money in conducting clinical trials before the drugs are approved and launched in the market. But after all this, if there are adverse effects to the drugs, the company again loses millions of dollars in sales and litigations. Furthermore, the reputation of the company is also severely damaged. Pharmacovigilance monitors the development of the drug across various stages and assesses its effectiveness after its launch for many years. This way it may reduce the adverse risk from drugs, thereby aiding the drug manufacturers.

 

Maintaining a safe working environment has not only become a matter of priority to many employers because it is good practice and required by the law but in most cases it is a life and death issue. Many organizations have put some form internal checks in their practice even though this can be quite tricky to implement due to a number of logistical issues. medical writer science has grown in leaps and bounds since the days of Hippocrates. Modern day pharmaceutical drugs are really life-savers.

 

Some of the positive outcomes of drug safety include:

Enhanced safety: Testing for drugs in the workplace will create a safe environment for your employees, visitors and customers. All PV services and customers who spend time in your premises will definitely feel safer and have peace of mind with the simple knowledge that workers are sober enough to handle machines and equipment.

 

Reduction of accidents: There is sufficient evidence to show that the use of drugs and alcohol actually increases the incidence of accidents at the place of work. People who come to work under the influence of alcohol and drugs are especially risky and they also put other worker at risk.

 

Good practice: The business of drug and alcohol testing is an important policy the every employer needs to put in place. As an employer, you want to avoid IDMP any litigation as a result of accidents that could have been avoided should such a policy have been in place. And an employer, you are obliged to ensure that none of your employees drives company vehicles or operates your machines and equipment while under the influence.

 

Supports staff with dependency problems: If your company has a good policy you will be in a better position to support any staff member who will be dealing with issues of drug misuse or abuse. Testing programs should be more than just testing for levels but go on to providing guidance and support to those who are addicted.

 

This way, it prevents harm to patients using those drug safety services. All PV services and customers who spend time in your premises will definitely feel safer and have peace of mind with the simple knowledge that workers are sober enough to handle machines and equipment.