Pharmacovigilance

Pharmacovigilance is a new discipline to the students of India which provides newer and better opportunities to aspirants across the country who wish to build their career in the field of pharmacological science.

Pharmacovigilance is a discipline which is concerned with identifying, validating, quantifying, evaluating and minimizing the adverse effects of medicine thereby increasing the safety of drugs in use. It is a study of drug related adverse effect carried out by pharmaceutical industries to suggest warnings and recommendation for product withdrawal.

Pharmacovigilance is not only an academic necessity but also a need to ensure security of human beings. It is an accepted opinion of the mass to scrutinize the adverse effects of medicines which have been released in the market.

The Government also puts forward a supportive hand and takes immediate actions for the implementation of such a course so that people become aware of the adverse effects of drugs which can be reduced by a discipline like pharmacovigilance.

Pharmacovigilance is important to implement quality systems in all pharmaceutical companies which produce huge amount of medicines that are marketed in India and Western Countries.

Pharmacovigilance Courses

An aspirant of pharmacovigilance can pursue both certificate and diploma courses in pharmacovigilance.

The certificate course for Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology is for 4 months. The course is conducted by Symogen, a KPO. The course fee is Rs.50,000 - Rs.80,000.

The post graduate diploma programme in Pharmacovigilance is spread over one year. The course fee is Rs.1.3 lakhs. This diploma course is conducted by The Institute of Clinical Research, India.

The two courses are taught by expert international faculty and well known national faculty who have several years of pharmacovigilance experience in practical and theoretical field.

To participate in these programs of Pharmacovigilance, the eligibility criteria is as follows:

Graduates in Pharmacy and Bio-Sciences, Medical Professionals, i.e Doctors of all disciplines, graduates in pharmacy and bio-sciences and junior professionals in Pharmaceutical and IT Industry, Clinical Research Organization are eligible for the course.

Pharmacovigilance Remuneration

A job holder in this field can easily get the starting salary of Rs.3.5 - Rs.8 Lakh per annum.

Pharmacovigilance Job Prospects

There is no shortage of jobs in this field as high-quality pharmacovigilance practice makes for good business dealing. Students in this field can get jobs in various pharmaceutical companies and earn attractive and handsome salary packages.

Pharmacovigilance Eligibility Criteria

Minimum eligibility criteria for application to the course would be either of the following:
A postgraduate or graduate in Bioscience/Life Sciences (with any of the following subjects: Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Biotech) with at least 50% marks in aggregate. A postgraduate or graduate with Chemistry as a subject with at least 50% marks in aggregate. A postgraduate or graduate in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences. A postgraduate or graduate in Medicine.

Selection Procedure: To maintain high academic standard, the Institute gives due importance to the quality of students enrolled. To ensure this, the selection of individual student will undergo the following procedure: Written examination, personal interview, screening and selection of students based on merit

Pharmacovigilance Scholarships

The Institute offers merit scholarship to five students every year. The Scholarship is offered on the overall performance of the students during the first year and these first five students are given a complete tuition fee waiver for the next year.

Pharmacovigilance Duration & Venue

The course will be held twice a year for four months each. The first batch intake will be from September to December based in New Delhi and January to April based in Mumbai. This pattern will run every year.

Number of admissions to each batch is limited so that personal attention can be paid to each student and this will also facilitate effective discussions, practical hands on training and in conducting mini-workshops during the course of study.

Pharmacovigilance Fees

The total fees for this 4 month course will be Rs.85,000 for working Indian Professionals and SAARC countries and 5000 USD for other International students. The fees for Indian students pursuing higher Education will be Rs.50,000.

It will cover all course materials and examinations. There will also be provision for coffee and lunch on teaching days.

Pharmacovigilance Examination

At the end of each four month course students will be assessed on the knowledge of Pharmacovigilance. The exams will consist of:
A written component of two hours duration consisting of 2 long questions and 4 short questions.
Viva: Thirty minutes with two examiners.
A short project to be submitted at the end of the course on the topics to be given by the Faculty on Pharmacovigilance.

Pharmacovigilance Institutes

Institute of Clinical Research (India)

• New Delhi Campus: Institute of Clinical Research (India), A-201, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi 110 020. Tel: 011- 4140 6945- 49. Fax: 011 - 41634963.

• Mumbai Campus: Institute of Clinical Research (India), C-9, Central Road No. 22, MIDC Industrial Area, Marol, Andheri (East), Mumbai 400093. Tel: 022- 28222034, 28230949, 28222016, 65740207-08. Fax: 022-28230518.

• Bangalore Campus: Institute of Clinical Research (India), 242 A, 13th Cross, CMH Road, Indiranagar 2nd Stage, Bangalore 560 038. Tel: 080-2520 722 -427. Fax: 080-2520 7227.

• Ahmedabad Campus: Institute of Clinical Research (India), 2, Devang Park, Opp Ahmedabad Stock Exchange, Panjrapole, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad - 380 015 Tel: 079- 3250 8678.
  

Pharmacovigilance Courses Offered

• One Year Part Time Program at ICRI
• PG Diploma in Clinical Data Management: Part Time One, Year Course, Timing 4pm to 8pm.
• PG Diploma in Pharmacovigilance: Part Time One Year Course, Timing 4pm to 8pm.
• FDA Complaint Medical Writing Specializations
• PG Certificate in Clinical Research for Nurses: Part Time Nine Months Course, Timing 4pm to 8pm.
• Certificate in Clinical Research for Nurses: Part Time Six Months Course, Timing 4pm to 8pm

Pharmacovigilance Contact Details

Symogen India
Certificate course in Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology.
Website- www.symogen.net
Tel No: +91-11-65805451
Fax No: +91-11-26882891