Enhancing Public Health with Pharmacovigilance: Tools, Strategies, and Impacts

Pharmacovigilance, which includes the identification, evaluation, comprehension, and avoidance of adverseor other drug-related issues, is essential to public health since it guarantees the safety, effectiveness, and responsible use of medications and vaccines. This article explores the various dimensions and applications of pharmacovigilance in public health, highlighting its role in drug safety monitoring, policy integration, pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health, chronic disease management, immunization programs, and its intersection with technological innovations. It operates at the intersection of clinical care, epidemiology, and public health policy, aiming to minimize harm while maximizing therapeutic benefits. The complexity of medication therapy and the rising demands for safety in healthcare systems are reflected in the development of pharmacovigilance. Its foundation lies in the Thalidomide disaster of the 1960s, which highlighted the catastrophic effects of inadequate drug safety monitoring. Over the past five years (2020–2025), pharmacovigilance has undergone significant advancements, enhancing drug safety and public health outcomes like adoption of artificial intelligence, utilisation of real world data, emphasising patient centric reporting, addressing emerging challenges etc.Today, pharmacovigilance is an essential component of regulatory frameworks and healthcare practices worldwide, integrating real-world evidence to address emerging challenges in drug safety. A key component of public health is pharmacovigilance, which guarantees the safe and efficient use of medications and vaccines. Its applications span drug safety monitoring, policy integration, pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health, chronic disease management, immunization programs, and technological innovations. By prioritizing pharmacovigilance, public health authorities can build safer, more resilient healthcare systems, ultimately improving outcomes for populations worldwide.