Pharma IQ Glossary: Pharmacovigilance

Pharmacovigilance (PV or PhV) is the pharmacological science relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects, particularly long term and short term side effects of medicines. It is the science of collecting, monitoring, researching, assessing and evaluating information from healthcare providers and patients on the adverse effects of medications, biological products, herbalism and traditional medicines with a view to: identifying new information about hazards associated with medicines and preventing harm to patients.