Enhancing Pharmacovigilance Through Collaboration: Join the ISoP Africa Chapter Meeting in Uganda this July

This year, in July, Uganda will be the stage for the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) Africa Chapter Meeting. This meeting is not just a platform for discussion but a unique opportunity to unite all pharmacovigilance stakeholders in a collaborative effort to advance the practice on our continent. Pharmacovigilance is a shared responsibility, and it is only through the active participation of multiple stakeholders that we achieve our ultimate goal of promoting patient and drug safety. Your presence and contribution at this meeting are crucial.

Who are the stakeholders?

The figure below illustrates the key stakeholders involved in a country’s pharmacovigilance activities. At the centre is the National Pharmacovigilance Center, which, as the name suggests, plays a central role in coordinating and overseeing pharmacovigilance activities at the national level. Its legal responsibility is to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs used in the country, making it a crucial entity in our collaborative efforts.

How do we collaborate and build relationships?

I have come to greatly appreciate the importance of collaboration and building relationships with stakeholders in my work. Relationships with regulatory authorities have helped me get answers to industry questions and provide feedback on gaps in guidelines. Collaboration with other pharmacovigilance professionals has helped support the industry in sourcing for LQPPVs and obtaining regulatory documents that are not publicly available.

1. Participation in continuous professional development activities. Last week, while attending a webinar by Catherine Mwendwa Maina ???? ?? on “Integrating Pharmacovigilance into Clinical Practice”, I learned that the HA in Zambia has released draft guidelines on QPPV and PV inspection although these guidelines are not readily available on the HA’s website yet. In the same webinar, a participant asked for Cameroon’s PV guidelines and I helped them with these. The examples are a few of so many that demonstrate the value of active participation in? CPD activities.
2. Membership to professional organisations. Organisations such as ISoP provide a platform to network with PV professionals from all over the world. In addition, they give access to several CPD activities and PV scientific articles in the Drug Safety Journal. The ISoP Africa Chapter has an email group for its members for peer-to-peer interaction. If you have a PV question that even the internet may not answer, there is a good chance you’ll get answers from the group.
3. Joining Technical Working and Special Interest Groups. TWGs/SIGs are another excellent opportunity to shape policies and work closely with other professionals. TWGs research extensively on an issue, write scientific articles and policy papers, and develop guidelines. The ISoP Africa Chapter has a TWG on PV practices and regulations that is working towards a possible harmonisation of PV regulations/guidelines for the whole continent. Rather than just being a member of a professional organisation, consider joining a TWG as well.
4. Networking on professional social networks such as LinkedIn. You can also connect with PV stakeholders on LinkedIn. Strategic connections can help you with regulatory intelligence, you’ll learn about PV webinar happenings and other relevant activities in time, and can quickly reach out to someone with expertise on a topic for support.

Call to action

If you’re a MAH, join us in Kampala this July for a chance to interact with regulators from across the continent. This meeting provides a platform to not only highlight challenges faced in complying with PV regulations but also suggest solutions to them. By actively participating, you'll have the opportunity to build relationships and start a journey of collaboration to foster PV in Africa, all the while benefiting from the unique insights and expertise shared by the others. Register now: https://isopafrica.com/?