India’s drug regulators have placed patient safety at the heart of their agenda with the inauguration of the 5th National Pharmacovigilance Week in New Delhi. By combining digital reporting platforms, awareness campaigns, and recognition for frontline contributors, the initiative underscores India’s growing role as a global leader in monitoring adverse drug reactions.
A Week Dedicated to Vigilance
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), functioning as the National Coordination Centre for the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), launched the 5th National Pharmacovigilance Week (NPW) at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre. Running from September 17 to 23, the campaign is themed “Your Safety, Just a Click Away: Report to PvPI”, reflecting its goal of making adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting as accessible as possible through QR codes and digital platforms.
The initiative aims to bring healthcare professionals, regulators, researchers, and patients onto a common platform for strengthening the culture of vigilance in drug safety.
Global Recognition for India’s Reporting
In his keynote address, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi highlighted India’s emergence as a top global contributor in adverse event reporting. “Initiation of National Pharmacovigilance Week has changed the course of pharmacovigilance in this country,” he said. “With the number of reports, we ranked among the top contributors globally.”
Raghuvanshi emphasized the critical role of patient participation. “Since inception, most reports have come from healthcare professionals. But meaningful impact can only be achieved when patients themselves actively participate,” he noted. He also called for “smart integration of technology and innovative approaches” to make pharmacovigilance more impactful, framing it as a cornerstone of India’s evolving healthcare policy.
New Tools, Wider Awareness
At the event, IPC unveiled several awareness initiatives:
- A short film on PvPI to educate the public about drug safety.
- A pharmacovigilance comic published in multiple Indian languages to engage diverse audiences.
- A new online reporting platform with QR code integration for simplified ADR submissions.
The campaign reflects a shift from traditional regulatory oversight to a more participatory model of healthcare safety, where patients, doctors, and institutions collaborate.
Honoring Excellence in Vigilance
To underline the importance of contributions from both professionals and patients, IPC introduced two awards:
- PvPI – Patient Safety Excellence Award was conferred upon the ADR Monitoring Centre at Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre, Varanasi, for its work in preventing ADRs.
- PvPI – Patient Connect Award went to Mr. Delli Kumar T. of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, recognizing his dedication to ADR reporting as a patient advocate.
The presence of senior figures like Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Prof. Y. K. Gupta, Dr. Nilima Kshirsagar, and Dr. Jai Prakash reinforced the message that pharmacovigilance is now central to India’s national health agenda.
India’s 5th National Pharmacovigilance Week marks a significant shift in how drug safety is approached—through digital innovation, patient participation, and recognition of grassroots efforts. By placing IPC and the Pharmacopoeia at the forefront of its health agenda, the country is betting on vigilance not just as a regulatory mechanism, but as a culture that safeguards millions.
