The 4th National Pharmacovigilance Week was inaugurated at Krishna Institute of Pharmacy (KIP), Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Karad, on 17th September 2024 at 11:00 AM.

The ceremony was graced by:

• Mr. Dinesh Khivasara – Assistant Commissioner, FDA (Pune & Satara Region), Government of Maharashtra (Chief Guest)
• Mr. Vikas Patil – Drug Inspector, FDA, Pune (Guest of Honor)
• Dr. M. V. Ghorpade – Registrar (Presiding Officer)
• Dr. Yugantara Kadam – Dean, KIMS (Guest of Honor)
• Dr. Namdeo R. Jadhav – Dean, KIP

The dignitaries jointly released the “ADR Awareness Poster” prepared by Pharm.D students to promote Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting among healthcare stakeholders. This year’s theme, “Building ADR Reporting Culture for Patient Safety,” was highlighted throughout the inaugural program.

Keynote Insights

In his keynote address, Mr. Dinesh Khivasara emphasized the vital role of Pharmacovigilance in ensuring safe and rational use of medicines. He underlined the importance of ADR reporting with examples such as:

• The Thalidomide tragedy
• J.J. Hospital contamination incident
• 2022 Gambia cough syrup tragedy

He encouraged students to be vigilant, responsible, and proactive in ADR reporting while staying updated with global drug safety practices.

Activities Planned for the Week

The National Pharmacovigilance Week will feature several awareness-oriented initiatives, including:

• Digital flyers & awareness videos
• Community outreach with ICT material distribution
• Street play on drug safety
• Extempore competition for pharmacy students

These activities aim to strengthen pharmacovigilance awareness within the community and healthcare system.

Conclusion

The inaugural ceremony set an inspiring tone for the week-long observance. The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Bijoy Kumar Panda (Associate Professor, Dept. of Pharmacy Practice), Program Coordinator – Pharmacovigilance.

KVV’s Krishna Institute of Pharmacy continues its commitment to fostering a strong culture of patient safety and responsible medication use.