Pharmacovigilance is best described as what?

• A. Marketing drugs to clinicians
• B. Monitoring and evaluating adverse drug events to improve drug safety and patient outcomes
• C. Designing new drug targets
• D. Training patients on medication adherence

Answer: (B)

Pharmacovigilance is the ongoing monitoring of medicines to identify, assess, and prevent adverse effects or other drug-related problems once a product is on the market. It involves collecting reports of adverse drug events, evaluating whether a drug contributed to them, detecting safety signals, and taking actions to reduce risk—such as updating labeling and informing clinicians and patients. The ultimate aim is to protect patients and improve outcomes in real-world use.

Marketing drugs to clinicians describes promotional activities, which are not pharmacovigilance. Designing new drug targets belongs to drug discovery and development, not safety monitoring. Training patients on medication adherence is about patient education and adherence support, not safety surveillance.