WHO has developed a draft manuscript that presents the case for integrating pharmacovigilance into public health programs. Ideally, every public health program should have a pharmacovigilance component and every pharmacovigilance program should have a risk/benefit component. The document highlights the critical strengths and weaknesses of both pharmacovigilance systems and public health programs and argues for the importance of using a public health program as an entry point for the establishment of a fully functioning pharmacovigilance system. The importance of collaboration and communication between pharmacovigilance systems and public health programs at both the national and international level to ensure full integration also is emphasized.

The guidance is intended primarily for policy makers and program managers. More detailed information for particular programs should be formulated by the specific public health program.

The contributing authors are: Ms. Niamh Arthur, Dr. David Coulter, Mr. Murilo Freitas Dias, Dr. Li Dakui, Professor I. Ralph Edwards, Professor Peter I. Folb, Dr. Andrea Feight, Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Professor Nilima A. Kshirsagar, Mr. Sten Olsson, Dr. June Raine, Mr. L. Bruce Rowsell, Dr. Gunilla Sjôlîn-Forsberg, and Dr. Rachida Soulaymani-Bencheikh.

WHO is soliciting comments on this manuscript from public health specialists. If you are interested in reviewing this 54-page document, please contact:

Dr Mary R. Couper
Quality Assurance and Safety: Medicines
Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy
World Health Organization
20, Avenue Appia
1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 3643/2337
Fax: +41 22 791 4730
Email: couperm@who.ch

Source: E-drug

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