Patna, September 22: The Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Monitoring Centre under the Department of Pharmacology at AIIMS Patna organised a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on rational use of medicines and pharmacovigilance on Tuesday.
The programme, titled “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare”, was organised under the aegis of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Government of India, as part of the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week 2026.
The CME focused on strengthening awareness about rational prescribing, adverse drug reaction reporting, pharmacovigilance and patient safety among healthcare professionals and students.
Focus On Rational Antibiotic Use
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. (Brig.) Dr. Raju Agarwal, Executive Director and CEO, AIIMS Patna, said medicines should be prescribed and used rationally after considering their necessity, benefits and potential risks.
He particularly highlighted the importance of rational antibiotic use, noting that deciding not to prescribe an antibiotic when it is not clinically indicated also requires sound clinical judgement.
He called for avoiding irrational antibiotic use to support safe, effective and appropriate patient care.
Pharmacovigilance And Patient Safety
Prof. Dr. Bikash Medhi, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at PGIMER, Chandigarh, highlighted the role of pharmacovigilance in promoting rational medicine use and strengthening patient safety.
He stressed that effective monitoring of medicines and timely identification of adverse drug reactions are important components of quality healthcare.
Speaking on “From ADR Reporting to Patient Safety: Strengthening Pharmacovigilance through PvPI,” Dr. R. S. Ray, Scientific Officer at the National Coordination Centre–Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI), Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, explained the importance of ADR reporting.
He highlighted how reporting can help identify medicine-related risks and contribute to improving the safety of medicines.
Community Participation In Pharmacovigilance
Prof. Dr. Harihar Dikshit, Principal of Netaji Subhas Medical College and Hospital, Bihta, and Professor Emeritus, Department of Pharmacology, IGIMS, Patna, spoke about social pharmacovigilance.
He emphasised the importance of involving communities in promoting safe and responsible use of medicines.
The speakers said pharmacovigilance is not limited to healthcare professionals and formal reporting systems. Patients, caregivers and the wider community also have an important role in identifying and reporting adverse drug reactions.
Greater awareness and timely reporting of medicine-related problems can help strengthen medication safety and contribute to better patient outcomes.
Platform For Healthcare Professionals And Students
The CME brought together healthcare professionals, faculty members, residents and students for discussions on rational prescribing, medicine safety and pharmacovigilance practices.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Pramod Kumar Manjhi, Additional Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, and Coordinator, Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Centre, AIIMS Patna.
He thanked the dignitaries, speakers, faculty members, residents, students and staff for their contributions to the programme.
The event reinforced AIIMS Patna’s focus on evidence-based and rational use of medicines, while promoting awareness of pharmacovigilance and patient safety. More
