Inauguration of Adverse Drug Monitoring Centre (AMC)

Inauguration of Adverse Drug Monitoring Centre (AMC) at Government Medical College & Government General Hospital, Ongole, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, December 16, 2022:

A significant milestone in patient safety was achieved today(16-12-2022) with the inauguration of the Adverse Drug reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) at Government Medical College & Government General Hospital, Ongole, under the aegis of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC). The event was graced by the presence of key medical professionals, including Dr. P.V. Sudhakar–Former Principal of GMC, Ongole; Dr. CH. Venkata Ramana -FormerVice Principal; Dr. Bhagavan Naik -FormerMedical Superintendent of GGH, Ongole; Dr. K. Solomon Raju -FormerHead of the Department of Pharmacology; Dr. CH Jhansi Vani –  Associate Professor of Pharmacology; Dr. B. Elizabeth – Head of the Department of Pediatrics; and Dr. Sandhya Rani – Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has recognized Government Medical College as one of the Adverse Drug reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) under Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) after regular identification and reporting of adverse drug reactions in and around Ongole on a monthly basis. Adverse Drug Monitoring Centre (AMC), Ongole serves as the only center for identifying and reporting of adverse drug reactions in the entire Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.

The AMC is established to systematically collect, analyze, and evaluate information related to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines. The center will play a pivotal role in:

Spontaneous ADR reporting: Encouraging healthcare professionals and patients to report suspected ADRs. AMC telephone Number – 85922 29020 is communicated to all Healthcare professionals in and around Prakasam district. AMC telephone number has been incorporated into the Out Patient slip for easy reporting of any ADRs encountered during the course of the treatment. Other ways of reporting include Toll Free number – 1800 180 3024 and PvPI mobile app.

Literature search: Identifying potential ADRs from published studies and databases.

Risk management: Assessing the safety profile of drugs and implementing risk minimization measures.

Causality assessment: Determining the likelihood of a drug causing an adverse event.

Data analysis: Identifying trends and patterns in ADR reporting.

Dissemination of information: Sharing findings with healthcare professionals and the public.

 Activities: Internship program for Pharm-D students.

                   Pharmacovigilance sensitization Program for Healthcare Professionals and Public on the monthly basis covering the entire Prakasam district.

            A quarterly Pharmacovigilance meeting will be held for allHoDs under the guidance of the Principal and Medical Superintendent for improving ADR reporting, data analysis, recent updates in view of public interest.

Dr. P.V. Sudhakar emphasized the critical role of ADR reporting in safeguarding patient health and highlighted the importance of this initiative in enhancing patient care.

Other esteemed speakers, including the Vice Principal, Medical Superintendent, and heads of departments, underscored the significance of ADR monitoring in identifying potential drug-related risks and contributing to evidence-based decision-making in the field of medicine.

The inauguration of the AMC marks a crucial step towards strengthening pharmacovigilance efforts in the region and promoting a culture of patient safety within the medical community.