Pharmacovigilance in Calabria (Italy): Local experiences resonate international relevance

Pharmacovigilance and all drug safety issues are relevant for everyone whose life is touched in any way by medical interventions.[1] Pharmacovigilance is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other problem in the field of medicine.”[2] The main reason for having a world-wide active and functioning pharmacovigilance system is the need to ensure patients’ safety. In all therapeutic protocols patients’ wellness is the main objective. Several aspects of drug therapy such as appropriateness of medication prescribing, rationale of choice of the agents, cost-effectiveness of the chosen medications and safety must be considered before starting treatment. Drug related adverse effects threaten patient wellness. In the light of this, pharmacovigilance should be considered a mandatory activity of all countries.