India Joins Global #MedSafetyWeek 2025 Campaign to Promote Safe Use of Medicines

India reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety and medicine monitoring by joining the tenth edition of the global #MedSafetyWeek 2025 campaign, held from 3rd to 9th November, alongside 130 partner organisations from 117 countries. The campaign, coordinated nationally by the National Coordination Centre – Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI) under the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), highlighted the crucial role of public participation in reporting adverse drug reactions.

Themed “Everyone has a role to play in medicines safety,” this year’s campaign encouraged patients, families, and healthcare professionals to report suspected side effects of medicines, reinforcing the message that collective vigilance leads to safer healthcare systems.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, IPC, emphasized the need for stronger public engagement in pharmacovigilance.

“Research indicates that only 5–10% of suspected side effects are reported globally. This means we often see just the tip of the iceberg. Through #MedSafetyWeek, we aim to make more people aware that their report truly matters,” he said.

Dr. Jai Prakash, Senior Principal Scientific Officer and Officer-in-Charge, NCC-PvPI, added,

“By reporting suspected side effects, each one of us contributes to making medicines safer. It’s not only doctors, pharmacists, or regulators—everyone has a role to play.”

Throughout the week, NCC-PvPI partners, including Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Monitoring Centres and Market Authorization Holders, conducted awareness drives and social media campaigns to promote safe medicine use. Outreach activities across India encouraged citizens to report any suspected side effects through official platforms, contributing to a more responsive and transparent health system.

Launched in 2016, the #MedSafetyWeek campaign is a global collaborative initiative to educate the public about how and where to report side effects. The 2025 edition, marking its 10th anniversary, became the largest-ever, with participation from 130 organisations worldwide, disseminating messages in over 60 languages.

By actively joining the global movement, India continues to strengthen its pharmacovigilance ecosystem, ensuring the safe use of medicines and protecting public health through informed participation and awareness.