Pharmacovigilance in the Community: A Special‑Interest Group of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance

Abstract

Pharmacovigilance (PV) continues to evolve globally and has changed in the last few decades from depending on a reactive approach based on spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to a more proactive and patient-centred approach [1]. To keep pace with these developments, PV stakeholders should adopt a multidisciplinary framework to release the untapped potential of their PV allies in the community [2].

Community pharmacists are often regarded as "the first point of contact" among healthcare professionals (HCPs) due to their high accessibility to the public [3]. However, on a daily basis, patients collect their medications from the pharmacy without seeking any clarification. Pharmacy staff often inquire, "Do you have any questions for the pharmacist?" to which the response is frequently "no" [4]. This recurring dialogue in general does not allow the pharmacists to inform the patients of any essential information with regard to their medication. This lack of communication is a barrier to adverse event reporting, if it occurs, and undermines trust in healthcare systems. In turn, this can negatively impact on compliance with medications and increase the susceptibility to accepting misleading information.

Therefore, community pharmacists and other HCPs, should be familiar with ways to communicate risk. It is important for HCPs to be aware of the integrated PV landscape, which addresses all circumstances where safety issues may occur (e.g., medication error, abuse, poor quality, misuse, and drug addiction and falsified products) and to include not only conventional medicines but also biological products and herbal medicines.