DRAP issued Guidelines for Public Health Programs (PHPs) to promote Pharmacovigilance activities and enhancing collaboration with National Pharmacovigilance Centre, DRAP.

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) aims at providing a holistic system of Pharmacovigilance in the country. Public Health Programs are key stakeholders involved in the reporting, assessment and risk communication of various un-wanted effects arising after the use of drugs, vaccines and other therapeutic goods. Reporting of Adverse Events associated with the use of therapeutic goods exclusively being used by PHPs is essential to a pharmacovigilance system.

The key objectives of pharmacovigilance activities in public health programs are:-

1. To improve public health and safety in relation to the use of therapeutic goods in PHPs;
2. To detect problems related to the use of therapeutic goods and associated risk communication in a timely manner
3. To encourage the safe, rational and more effective use of therapeutic goods.

This guideline will assist the Public Health Programs (PHPs) for enhancement of pharmacovigilance activities, and provide a guidance on communication channels among PHPs and Pharmacovigilance Centres for collaborative working to synergize activities within the National Pharmacovigilance system of Pakistan.

DRAP published the draft of this guidelines on its website on 23rd April, 2022 inviting the comments of stakeholders on the draft. After through consultation and careful consideration, fist edition of the guidelines on the pharmacovigilance activities in the public health programs are finalized. Nevertheless, anyone can still furnish his/her comments on the guidelines using our comments submissions methods for consideration in the future editions of the document.

Please click to view the document, GUIDELINES ON PHARMACOVIGILANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMMES