What Role Do Pharmacovigilance and Post-Marketing Surveillance Play?
Pharmacovigilance and post-marketing surveillance are critical components of pharmacological epidemiology. These activities involve monitoring the safety of drugs after they have been released on the market. They help identify adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and other safety issues that may not have been apparent during clinical trials. Through systems like the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the WHO's Global Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) database, healthcare professionals and consumers can report adverse events, which are then analyzed to ensure ongoing drug safety.