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Smriti College of Pharmaceutical Education (SCOPE) in Indore, recently celebrated Pharmacovigilance Week with a successful event designed to enlighten and inspire students about the dynamic and rapidly evolving field.
The celebration, held on September 18, 2025, brought together students, faculty, and leading experts to discuss the critical role of drug safety in modern healthcare. The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands, fostering a new generation of skilled professionals ready to tackle the challenges of pharmacovigilance.
The event's highlight was a comprehensive scientific session and panel discussion featuring prominent experts from M.G.M. Medical College, Indore. These sessions provided students with invaluable insights into key areas of pharmacovigilance, including adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring and the complex landscape of regulatory practices.
The experts emphasized the field's shift towards more proactive, technology-driven approaches, which are creating new and exciting career pathways for pharmacy graduates.
Dr. Neelesh Malviya, the Principal of SCOPE, set the tone for the event with his welcome address. He highlighted pharmacovigilance as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the pharmaceutical industry, driven by the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health. Dr. Malviya explained that this technological evolution is expanding the field's scope into predictive analysis and real-time reporting, which translates into a wealth of career opportunities.
A key theme of the event was India's rising prominence as a global hub for clinical trials and generic drug manufacturing.
Dr. Savita Vyas, Associate Professor at M.G.M. Medical College, delivered a keynote address on this topic, explaining how this growth has created a significant demand for trained pharmacovigilance professionals. She urged students to proactively develop essential skills such as medical writing, case processing, regulatory compliance, and signal detection to gain a competitive edge in the job market.
Further enriching the discussion, Dr. Anjali Kushwah, also from M.G.M. Medical College, shed light on the crucial Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). She stressed the importance of hands-on experience and encouraged students to actively participate in ADR reporting during their practical training and internships. This practical exposure, she noted, is fundamental for building a strong foundation for a career in pharmacovigilance.
The panel also included Dr. Akhilesh P. S. Tomar, who provided an overview of the fundamentals of pharmacovigilance, focusing on the transformative role of technology, automation, and big data analytics in detecting drug safety concerns. He also advised students to stay updated with global regulatory guidelines from agencies like the CDSCO, US FDA, and EMA to develop globally relevant competencies.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session where students interacted with the experts, asking questions about necessary skill sets and entry strategies for fresh graduates. The experts reiterated the need for strong pharmacological knowledge, computer literacy, and familiarity with regulatory systems. They also recommended students pursue short-term certification courses and internships with contract research organizations (CROs) to gain industry-ready skills.
The celebration successfully inspired attendees by highlighting that pharmacovigilance is not just a rewarding career path but also a vital contributor to public health and patient safety.
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