Background: Pharmacovigilance is the “
science and activities relating to the
detection , assessment,
understanding and prevention of
adverse effects or any other
drug related problems”. The most commonly used
adverse drug reaction (ADR)
reporting system worldwide is spontaneous and voluntary
reporting , which forms the backbone of
reporting systems.
Aims: To explore the current status of
consumer involvement in the
pharmacovigilance program in three
developing countries ,
Yemen ,
Nepal and
Malaysia .
Method: An
analysis was carried out for these three countries based on the current status of
pharmacovigilance and involvement of consumers in their
pharmacovigilance programs.
Results: Malaysia has a good system for involving consumers in their national
pharmacovigilance system, whereas
Yemen still lacks the well-formed
national drug policy . Lack of legislation and
regulation which govern the import and distribution of
drugs in
Yemen is a limiting factor for development of consumer
pharmacovigilance . Despite establishment of a
pharmacovigilance centre, no
reports have been released by the centre. The status of
pharmacovigilance in
Nepal is still in infancy. The regulatory body is assigned to be a national
pharmacovigilance center, and coordinates with seven regional centers for
pharmacovigilance activities.
Nepal also lacks the involvement of consumers in the national
pharmacovigilance program.
Conclusion: Consumer
reporting may be important for
developing countries to implement a proper and effective
pharmacovigilance program that can reduce
morbidity and
mortality rates, as well as reducing the
economic burden of ADRs.