Centre Expands Drug Safety Network Across Three States

India’s drug safety network is getting a stronger push as the Centre has partnered with pharmacy councils in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Mizoram to improve adverse drug reaction reporting and strengthen medicine monitoring across the country.

The latest move is aimed at expanding the country’s pharmacovigilance network and making drug safety a bigger priority in hospitals, pharmacies, and healthcare institutions.

With the new partnerships in place, drug safety and pharmacovigilance measures are expected to become more organized and accessible, especially through better reporting systems and pharmacist training programs.

The initiative was launched through the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), which functions under the Union Health Ministry. The agreements were signed with the state pharmacy councils to encourage pharmacists to actively participate in the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). The program focuses on identifying, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects caused by medicines.

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Pharmacists to Play Bigger Role in ADR Monitoring System

Under the collaboration, the Centre will work closely with the three state councils to create awareness among pharmacists regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and the importance of reporting them. Pharmacists are often the first healthcare professionals to notice side effects experienced by patients, making their role critical in strengthening medicine safety systems.

Officials said the partnerships would help improve the reporting culture across healthcare facilities and pharmacies. The initiative also seeks to establish stronger ADR Monitoring Centres in hospitals and healthcare institutions so that side effects linked to medicines can be identified and addressed at an earlier stage.

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission noted that strengthening pharmacovigilance has become increasingly important due to the growing use of medicines, including antibiotics, chronic disease drugs, and over-the-counter treatments. Monitoring side effects and collecting safety data can help regulators take quicker action whenever safety concerns emerge.

As part of the initiative, pharmacists will receive training on rational medicine use, patient counseling, and proper reporting procedures. The Centre also plans to promote the National Formulary of India through these partnerships to encourage evidence-based prescribing and dispensing practices.

The move comes amid the government’s broader efforts to improve medicine safety standards nationwide. In recent months, regulators have instructed pharmacies to display Pharmacovigilance Programme of India QR codes and helpline numbers to make it easier for patients to report side effects directly. The government has been attempting to make adverse reaction reporting more accessible to both healthcare professionals and the public.

India’s pharmacovigilance system has expanded rapidly over the years. According to industry estimates, the number of ADR Monitoring Centres in the country has grown from just 22 in 2011 to more than 1,100 by 2025. The expansion reflects the government’s growing focus on patient safety and medicine surveillance.

Experts believe that better adverse reaction reporting can significantly improve healthcare outcomes. Many drug side effects often remain underreported because patients are unaware of reporting mechanisms or healthcare professionals fail to document reactions systematically. A stronger monitoring network can help identify rare side effects, unsafe medicine combinations, and long-term risks associated with certain drugs.

The collaboration with Bihar, Maharashtra, and Mizoram is expected to further strengthen grassroots participation in the country’s drug monitoring framework. Maharashtra already has a large healthcare network and pharmaceutical presence, while Bihar and Mizoram could benefit from stronger institutional systems and awareness programs.

Health officials also emphasized that accurate ADR reporting supports regulatory decision-making. Data collected through pharmacovigilance programs can lead to safety alerts, label changes, dosage modifications, or even withdrawal of medicines if serious risks are identified.

The Centre believes that involving state pharmacy councils directly will create a more structured and sustainable reporting ecosystem. By increasing pharmacist participation and improving patient awareness, the government aims to build a safer medicine usage environment across India.

The latest agreements signal a continued effort by the Centre to modernize India’s drug safety infrastructure and ensure that medicine-related risks are identified and managed more effectively before they become larger public health concerns.