Dr. B Suresh Advocates for Inclusion of PvPI and ADR Monitoring & Reporting in Pharmacy Curriculum

**Dr. B Suresh Advocates for Inclusion of PvPI and ADR Monitoring & Reporting in Pharmacy Curriculum**

In recent years, the importance of pharmacovigilance (PvPI) and adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring has gained significant attention in the healthcare sector. Recognizing the critical role that pharmacists play in ensuring drug safety, Dr. B Suresh, a prominent figure in the field of pharmacy education and regulation in India, has been a strong advocate for the inclusion of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and ADR monitoring and reporting in the pharmacy curriculum. His advocacy is aimed at equipping future pharmacists with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to patient safety and drug efficacy.

### The Role of Pharmacovigilance and ADR Monitoring

Pharmacovigilance refers to the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems. ADR monitoring, a key component of pharmacovigilance, involves the systematic collection, analysis, and reporting of adverse drug reactions to ensure that medications are safe for public use.

The Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), launched in 2010 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is a national initiative aimed at monitoring the safety of medicines and ensuring that the benefits of drugs outweigh their risks. PvPI collects and analyzes data on ADRs from healthcare professionals and patients across the country, helping to identify potential safety concerns and take corrective actions when necessary.

### Dr. B Suresh’s Vision for Pharmacy Education

Dr. B Suresh, a visionary leader in pharmacy education and the former President of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), has long been a proponent of modernizing the pharmacy curriculum to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry. He believes that the inclusion of PvPI and ADR monitoring in the pharmacy curriculum is essential for preparing pharmacists to take on a more active role in patient care and drug safety.

In his view, pharmacists are not just dispensers of medications but also key players in ensuring the safe and effective use of drugs. By integrating pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting into the curriculum, pharmacy students will be better equipped to identify, report, and manage adverse drug reactions, thereby contributing to the overall safety of the healthcare system.

### Why PvPI and ADR Monitoring Should Be Part of the Curriculum

1. **Enhancing Patient Safety**: Pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients when it comes to medication-related issues. By training pharmacy students in ADR monitoring and reporting, they will be better prepared to identify potential drug-related problems and take appropriate action to prevent harm to patients.

2. **Improving Drug Safety**: Pharmacovigilance is crucial for identifying previously unknown adverse effects of drugs, especially after they have been approved for public use. By involving pharmacists in the process of ADR reporting, the healthcare system can gather more comprehensive data on drug safety, leading to better regulatory decisions and safer medications.

3. **Bridging the Knowledge Gap**: Many pharmacy graduates enter the workforce without a deep understanding of pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. By incorporating these topics into the curriculum, students will gain a solid foundation in drug safety, making them more competent and confident in their roles as healthcare professionals.

4. **Meeting Global Standards**: Pharmacovigilance is a global priority, and many countries have established robust systems for monitoring drug safety. By including PvPI and ADR monitoring in the pharmacy curriculum, India can align its pharmacy education with international standards, ensuring that its pharmacists are well-prepared to contribute to global pharmacovigilance efforts.

5. **Encouraging a Culture of Reporting**: One of the challenges in pharmacovigilance is underreporting of ADRs by healthcare professionals. By educating pharmacy students about the importance of ADR reporting and the role they can play in improving drug safety, Dr. Suresh hopes to foster a culture of reporting that will benefit the entire healthcare system.

### Implementation Challenges and Solutions

While the inclusion of PvPI and ADR monitoring in the pharmacy curriculum is a step in the right direction, there are several challenges that need to be addressed for successful implementation:

1. **Curriculum Overload**: Pharmacy students already have a packed curriculum, and adding new topics may lead to concerns about overloading students. To address this, Dr. Suresh suggests integrating pharmacovigilance and ADR monitoring into existing courses, such as pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, and therapeutics, rather than creating standalone courses.

2. **Faculty Training**: Many pharmacy educators may not have sufficient expertise in pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting. To overcome this, Dr. Suresh recommends organizing faculty development programs and workshops to train educators in these areas, ensuring that they can effectively teach the subject matter to students.

3. **Practical Exposure**: Theoretical knowledge alone is not enough to prepare students for real-world pharmacovigilance activities

• Source Link: https://platohealth.ai/pvpi-and-adr-monitoring-reporting-should-be-made-part-of-pharmacy-curriculum-dr-b-suresh/