The WHO International Drug Monitoring Programme, Programme for International Drug Monitoring (PIDM) is a global initiative established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve patient safety by monitoring the safety of medicinal products worldwide. Launched in 1968 in response to the thalidomide disaster, the program seeks to detect, assess, understand, and prevent adverse effects … Read more
Safety monitoring of medicines, often referred to as pharmacovigilance, is a critical process that ensures the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical products throughout their lifecycle. While clinical trials provide valuable insights into a drug’s efficacy and safety, these trials are limited in terms of the number of patients, the duration of the study, and … Read more
The World Health Organization (WHO) took a leading role in global pharmacovigilance efforts. In 1968, WHO established its International Drug Monitoring Programme, which initially involved ten countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, West Germany (now part of Germany)). This program aimed to improve drug safety by encouraging countries … Read more
Introduction: The Thalidomide Disaster is one of the most infamous medical tragedies in history. It occurred in the late 1950s and early 1960s when the drug thalidomide was widely prescribed to pregnant women to relieve morning sickness, leading to severe birth defects in thousands of newborns worldwide. This disaster led to major reforms in drug … Read more
Early Beginnings: The practice of pharmacovigilance can be traced back to the early 20th century, though its formal development began much later. Drug safety issues have been a concern since the introduction of modern pharmaceuticals, but the actual systematic reporting and monitoring mechanisms were non-existent until mid-20th century. The Sulfanilamide Tragedy (1937): A Turning Point … Read more
Pharmacovigilance (PV) is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems. The term is derived from two words: “Pharmakon” (Greek) meaning drug, and “Vigilare” (Latin) meaning to keep watch. The goal of pharmacovigilance is to enhance patient safety and ensure that the benefits … Read more
