Directorate Reviews Pharmacovigilance System at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar

On the directives of the Director General, Drug Control & Pharmacy Services, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a team from the Directorate of Drug Control & Pharmacy Services visited Government Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar to assess the existing system for the detection, assessment, documentation, reporting, and prevention of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) and to review the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities in the tertiary care setting.

During the visit, the Directorate team held detailed discussions with the Hospital Director, Manager Pharmacy, and Pharmacovigilance Officers of LRH regarding the existing mechanisms for ADR reporting, clinical assessment, signal identification, documentation, and follow-up of suspected adverse drug reactions. The discussions also focused on strengthening coordination between clinical departments, pharmacy services, and pharmacovigilance personnel to facilitate timely identification and reporting of medicine-related safety concerns.

The team appreciated the ongoing efforts of Lady Reading Hospital in strengthening its pharmacovigilance system and promoting a culture of patient safety and rational medicine use. The visit provided an opportunity to identify areas for further improvement and to explore mechanisms for enhancing the completeness, quality, and timely reporting of ADRs from tertiary care hospitals.

The Health Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, remains committed to establishing and strengthening a coordinated and sustainable provincial pharmacovigilance system in accordance with scientific principles and applicable regulatory frameworks. Strengthening ADR surveillance across healthcare facilities will contribute to early detection of medicine-related risks, improved patient safety, evidence-based regulatory action, and safer use of medicines throughout the province.