IMA, IPC and NCC - PvPI sign an MoU to work towards encouraging the medical fraternity to report the occurance of all adverse drug reactions in the country

IMA, IPC and NCC - PvPI sign an MoU to work towards encouraging the medical fraternity to report the occurance of all adverse drug reactions in the country

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), National Coordination Centre (NCC) for Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) today signed a letter of intent to enhance their mutual understanding and device ways to promote Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) reporting in the country.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India which was created to set standards of medicines commonly used for treatment of diseases prevailing in our country. The IPC has been functioning as the NCC for PvPI since 15th April 2011 to monitor all adverse drug reactions taking place in the country. The mission of PvPI is to safeguard the health and welfare of the Indian population by monitoring drug safety and ensuring that the benefits of use of medicine outweigh the associated risks. IMA is the only representative, national voluntary organization of doctors of modern scientific system of medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well-being of the community at large.

Speaking about the partnership, Dr. S.S Agarwal – National President and Padma Shri Awardee Dr. KK Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General of IMA in a joint statement said, “We are extremely pleased to sign this memorandum of understanding with the IPC, NCC & PvPI. Together we will work towards promoting the cause of drug safety in our country. We will be sensitizing all our 2.5 lakh IMA members about the importance of reporting all adverse drug reactions in their day-to-day practices to help improve their standards.“

Together these bodies will work towards promoting patient safety in the country. They have agreed to cooperate and work together on the following:

·         PvPI-IMA patient safety monitoring cell to be started at the IMA Head Quarters in New Delhi

·         Organizing Continuing Medical Educations (CMEs), 

·         Disseminating PvPI information/concept of Pharmacovigilance (PV) to all IMA members through its journals, news portals

·         IMA to identify the nodal centers for education/advocacy and ADR monitoring and recommend to NCC-PvPI for recognition

·         Providing training to the nodal coordinators and medical officers

·         Development and up-gradation of a mobile app. for ADR monitoring

To propagate the concept of drug safety to patients.