Awareness on medicine side effects can save from diseases

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 5

A national seminar on “Pharmacist Practitioners and Pharmacovigilance: The Road Ahead” was organized by the pharma department of Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Technology and Science (SGRRITS) here today.

Deputy Drug Controller of India Dr AK Pradhan explained the significance of pharmacovigilance and highlighted that how a better health could be ensured for society through pharmacovigilance. “Each and every drug has its side-effects. Awareness towards these side effects can save us from the diseases related to it,” he said. Pharmacovigilance was first initiated in India in 2004 by World Bank, he added.

Murlidhar Sahu gave detailed information about adverse drug reaction (ADR). He said in many cases, the patient simultaneously take allopathic, homoeopathic and Ayurvedic drugs. The multi pathy drugs for one disease may also lead to the ADR.

Guest of honour Dr Rao Vadlamudi, president, IPA, Mumbai, in his address said the objectives of this organization were to take pharma education to new heights in India and to make India self-reliant in the field of drugs manufacturing. He said, “India is the third largest pharma market in the world.” He urged the pharma students to take Indian pharma industry to new heights.

He said the pharma industry in India had the scope of growth like the information technology sector.

President of the Indian Hospital Pharmacist Association (IHPA) SL Nasa said, “There are around 1,500 pharmacy colleges in India. Retired pharmacists have worked very hard to secure a respectable position for this profession in the society. As a result of their struggle, the pharmacy profession is regarded as a noble profession in the society.”

Prof Preeti Kothiyal said the seminar had provided a unique impetus to the practitioner pharmacists, pharmacy students and paramedical staff to understand the recent developments and researches done in the discipline of pharmacovigilance. The seminar has also made aware the general public and other healthcare professionals about pharmacovigilance.

Earlier Deputy Drug Controller of India Dr AK Pradhan, general manager, pharmacovigilance of AKUMS Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Haridwar, Murlidhar Sahu, president of the Indian Pharmacists Association (IPA), Mumbai, Dr Rao VSV Vadlamudi, life member of the SGRR Education Mission, and Director of SGRRITS Dr Prof Preeti Kothiyal inaugurated the conference.