Abstract

ADVERSE DRUG REACTION MONITORING AND REPORTING BY COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS: A REVIEW

Srikanth M.S and Ramesh Adepu*

Abstract

Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality and increased health related cost. Since the incidence of ADRs is more than 50% in community settings, community pharmacists in overseas are playing vital role in monitoring and reporting the ADRs to their respective national Pharmacovigilance program. Research studies have corroborated that community pharmacists in Canada (89%), Australia (41%), The Netherlands (40.2%), Spain (26%) and Portugal (24%) are reporting ADRs to their respective national Pharmacovigilance programs. However in India, due to trader attitude the community pharmacists have not yet started their contribution to Pharmacovigilance program of India (PvPI). This review article describes about the attitudes, behaviours and current practices of community towards ADR reporting and a brief discussion on barriers in reporting ADRs.

Keywords: Adverse drug reactions, community Pharmacists, Attitudes and behaviors, Barriers.