What is pharmacovigilance and why is it important?

• A. The process of marketing drugs.
• B. The science of detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse drug effects; essential for patient safety and drug regulation.
• C. A system for packaging drugs.
• D. A study comparing drugs.

Answer: (B)

Pharmacovigilance is the ongoing process of monitoring medicines to identify, evaluate, understand, and prevent adverse drug effects. It matters because it protects patients by detecting safety signals after a drug is on the market and guiding regulators on labeling, usage recommendations, and sometimes withdrawal if risks outweigh benefits. This work includes collecting reports of side effects, analyzing data to assess risk, and taking action to minimize harm. The other descriptions don’t fit: marketing drugs is about promotion, not safety monitoring; packaging systems deal with delivering the drug rather than monitoring its safety; and a study comparing drugs is research design, not the continuous safety surveillance done in pharmacovigilance.