N.E.T. Pharmacy College, Raichur, under Navodaya Education Trust, inaugurated the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week on 17th September 2026 at Dr. C.M. Gurumurthy Hall, Navodaya Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Raichur. The programme was organized by the ADR Monitoring Centre, N.E.T. Pharmacy College, in association with the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad.
The theme of this year’s National Pharmacovigilance Week is “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare.”
The inaugural programme was graced by Dr. Gurudatta S. Pawar, Dean/Principal, Navodaya Medical College, Raichur, as the Chief Guest, along with Dr. V. Rama Mohan Gupta, Director, Academic Development & Research, Navodaya Education Trust, and Dr. Arun K.N., Medical Superintendent, Navodaya Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, as Guests of Honour. The programme was presided over by Dr. H. Doddayya, Principal, N.E.T. Pharmacy College, Raichur.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Gurudatta S. Pawar highlighted the importance of pharmacovigilance as an essential component of a safe healthcare system. He emphasized that healthcare professionals must be aware of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), their prevention, detection and reporting. He also highlighted the expanding scope of vigilance from medicines to medical devices and stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals. He particularly emphasized the role and responsibility of Pharm.D professionals in identifying and reporting ADRs and promoting medication safety.
Dr. Pawar also stressed the importance of prescription awareness and appropriate medicine use. He shared practical experiences related to adverse drug reactions and emphasized the need for healthcare professionals, particularly the medical profession, to understand how ADRs can be identified, reported and prevented. He called for stronger interdisciplinary cooperation to improve patient safety.
Dr. V. Rama Mohan Gupta, Director, Academic Development & Research, Navodaya Education Trust, emphasized that pharmacovigilance extends beyond ADR reporting and is fundamentally connected with patient safety. He explained that medicines may produce different effects in different patients and therefore continuous monitoring after administration is essential.
Referring to the theme of the programme, Dr. Gupta highlighted the importance of the rational use of medicines, including the selection of the right medicine, right dose, right time and appropriate duration of treatment. He also emphasized the need to avoid unnecessary polypharmacy and inappropriate combinations of antimicrobials. He called upon healthcare professionals to contribute towards promoting rational medicine use and strengthening patient safety.
In his presidential remarks, Dr. H. Doddayya, Principal, N.E.T. Pharmacy College, appreciated the continuous efforts of the institution towards pharmacovigilance and patient safety. He highlighted that the college has been actively involved in ADR reporting and awareness activities for several years and has been consistently receiving and reporting ADRs from different clinical departments through its students and interns.
He stated that the institution has been celebrating Pharmacovigilance Week for the past six years through a range of scientific sessions, awareness programmes, competitions and community-oriented activities. He explained that the week-long programme provides students with opportunities to learn from experts, participate in scientific activities and understand the practical importance of pharmacovigilance in healthcare.
Dr. Doddayya encouraged students to actively participate in all the activities scheduled during the week and make use of the programme to strengthen their knowledge and professional skills in pharmacovigilance.
The inaugural programme was followed by a series of scientific sessions by eminent resource persons. Dr. Vithya Thirumoorthi, Professor & Head, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, PvPI Coordinator and MvPI Deputy Coordinator, St. Philomena’s Hospital, Bengaluru, delivered a session on “From Medicines to Medical Devices: Advancing Patient Safety Through Vigilance.” The session highlighted the broader concept of vigilance and the importance of monitoring safety concerns associated with healthcare products.
Dr. Chandrika Rao, Professor & Head, Department of Paediatrics, Navodaya Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Raichur, delivered a session on “Medication Safety in Children – Role of Healthcare Professionals.” The session focused on the importance of careful medication use and monitoring in paediatric patients.
A special scientific session was also conducted by Mr. Sahil Pocker, Professor, CSE (AI & ML), Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru, on “Pharmacovigilance in the Digital Era: What AI Can Do Today, and What Comes Next.” The session introduced students to the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence and technology in pharmacovigilance and discussed its potential applications in the evolving healthcare environment.
The programme also included the VIGIQuiz Competition, which provided students with an engaging platform to test and enhance their knowledge of pharmacovigilance, adverse drug reactions and medication safety.
A panel discussion on “Beyond ADR Reporting: Careers and Research in Pharmacovigilance” was moderated by Dr. T. Shivaraj Gouda, Professor & Head, Department of Pharmacology, N.E.T. Pharmacy College. The panel comprised Dr. H. Doddayya, Mr. Binu K.M., Dr. Vithya Thirumoorthi and Mr. Sahil Pocker. The discussion provided students with insights into career opportunities, research avenues, professional responsibilities and the expanding scope of pharmacovigilance beyond conventional ADR reporting. The concluding session marked the culmination of the day’s activities.
The 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week, being conducted from 17th to 23rd September 2026, includes a series of scientific lectures, student competitions, walkathon, public and consumer awareness programmes, hospital visits and other educational activities aimed at strengthening awareness regarding medication safety and rational use of medicines.
The week-long programme will provide students and healthcare professionals with opportunities to interact with experts from different disciplines and gain practical insights into pharmacovigilance, medication safety, rational medicine use and ADR reporting. The activities also aim to extend awareness beyond the academic environment through public and consumer-oriented initiatives.
Through these activities, N.E.T. Pharmacy College, Raichur, continues its efforts to create awareness among students, healthcare professionals and the public about the importance of detecting, preventing and reporting adverse drug reactions and promoting safer healthcare practices.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by the National Anthem.