In order to collect information on adverse events derived from the use of medicines, in our country, as well as in the world, a pharmacovigilance system has been established to guarantee comprehensive “surveillance” of their safety. Roszdravnadzor employees ensure its continued operation in accordance with international standards.
There is a WHO program for international drug monitoring and a Monitoring Center established in Uppsala, Sweden (WHO-UMC) to support its operation. Every year, as a rule, in the first ten days of November, the Week of Pharmacotherapeutic Safety is held. The event aims to highlight the importance of reporting adverse drug reactions. At the same time, it is extremely important that doctors can differentiate a possible adverse reaction, record it correctly and send a notification to Roszdravnadzor.
National regulatory authorities in 81 countries have supported an information campaign sponsored by the Uppsala Monitoring Center to increase reporting of observed drug-related adverse reactions.
The purpose of follow-up is to obtain more information about known adverse reactions, as well as to identify new adverse reactions. Roszdravnadzor continuously collects and analyzes adverse reaction reports from medical organizations, patients and registration certificate holders.
Every year, the WHO-UMC prepares a series of cartoons to be published on the websites and social networks of regulatory agencies. As part of this information campaign, Roszdravnadzor published specially prepared cartoon videos that demonstrate the importance of recording and collecting adverse drug reaction reports. In addition to its official website, Roszdravnadzor maintains various channels on various social networks. In total, more than 4,000 people have seen the videos.
In 2022, the Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education of the Russian Ministry of Health, the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies joined the information campaign.
As a general rule, such information campaigns do not have immediate results, but delayed ones. We see this in the figures for the annual increase in adverse reaction reports.
In 2021, Roszdravnadzor received more than 60,000 messages and this year we expect them to grow by 10 percent. Only the joint participation of all specialists, increasing the level of trust between the patient and the doctor, will make the work more efficient and the medicines safer.
