|
Knowledge, attitudes and current practices of pharmacovigilance amongst medical doctors and pharmacists
As a result of the Thalidomide tragedy in the 1960’s, pharmacovigilance was developed, and its scope has evolved over the years. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that although medicines make a huge and positive contribution to humankind, they also cause undesired effects. It has been found that approximately 50% of medicine-related patient harms that lead to hospitalization are preventable. Over the past decades, South Africa and other countries across Africa have joined the efforts made by the WHO’s global Pharmacovigilance network; however, this has not led to effective pharmacovigilance systems. As a result, reporting of adverse drug reactions remains very low in our region. All the medicines that have turned out to be unsafe and withdrawn from the market, has not been through information provided by our pharmacovigilance systems; however, many patients in this country and throughout the continent are being treated with a wide range of medicines. Which means there are potentially significant adverse drug reactions being experienced by patients, but these are not being reported.
You are requested to participate in a survey to assess the knowledge, attitudes and current practices of pharmacovigilance, among Medical Doctors and Pharmacists in South Africa. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the low Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting levels in South Africa. The results of this study will be used to make recommendations on how to promote post-marketing pharmacovigilance in South Africa. As a result, this will promote the protection of patient health, rights and well-being.
| 
