Effectiveness of Community Pharmacy-Based Pharmacovigilance Systems in Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69996/fmep.2026025Keywords:
Pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reactions, community pharmacists, drug safety, ADR reporting, pharmacovigilance systemsAbstract
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) remain a major public health concern and contribute significantly to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure worldwide. Pharmacovigilance systems play a vital role in identifying, assessing, and preventing ADRs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of community pharmacy-based pharmacovigilance systems in monitoring ADRs and improving reporting practices. A prospective observational study was conducted over 24 months from March 2020 to March 2022 in selected community pharmacies in Oman. Seven community pharmacists participated after receiving structured training on ADR identification and reporting. A total of 700 ADR reports were collected and analyzed using WHO causality assessment criteria, the Naranjo algorithm, and Hartwig’s severity scale. Results indicated that antihypertensives and antidiabetics were the most frequently implicated drug categories. Most ADRs were mild and categorized as “possible” or “probable” according to WHO criteria. The study demonstrated that pharmacist involvement, continuous training, and structured monitoring significantly improve ADR reporting rates and public awareness regarding medication safety. Community pharmacy-based pharmacovigilance systems can therefore strengthen national drug safety programs and enhance patient outcomes.
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