Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety

The World Health Organization defines pharmacovigilance as the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems.

Pharmacovigilance is crucial for the safe and effective management of mycetoma, a condition that requires prolonged treatment with antifungal and antibiotic medications. Mycetoma patients face extended drug exposure, increasing the risk of adverse effects and drug interactions, particularly in patients with other health conditions. Early detection and management of ADRs through pharmacovigilance allows healthcare providers to adjust treatments, improving safety and adherence. Pharmacovigilance and drug safety are essential in mycetoma to enhance the treatment outcomes for those affected by this neglected tropical disease.

The MRC has developed a pharmacovigilance strategy, implementation plan, and standard operating procedure, along with a card for reporting adverse drug reactions.

You can read more about mycetoma management, the role of pharmacovigilance, and the mycetoma research centre’s experience with pharmacovigilance and drug safety in the following paper:

https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0012827#sec019