Pharmacovigilance: Three suggestions for improving the quantity and quality of adverse event reports

Pharmacovigilance is intended to provide early detection of warning signals to minimize the impact and spread of adverse drug reactions. For the system to be effective, there must be rapid reporting of adverse events to a central review function which must quickly recognize the signals and act upon them. Both the quantity and the quality of adverse event reports must be improved. Education in clinical pharmacology should be restored to prominence in the medical school curriculum. Prescribers and those who care for patients need to understand the purpose of a central reporting system and be encouraged to file complete reports. Collaboration between the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies is required if improvements in the quantity and quality of adverse event reports are to appear.