IMPACT OF PHARMACOVIGILANCE ON PATIENT SAFETY

Abstract

Adverse drug reactions are harmful and unintended effects resulting from the use of medications at therapeutic doses, which may compromise the patient’s health and even lead to death. Reporting these events to Anvisa is essential to identify risks, update the safety profile of medicines, and promote public health protection. This study aimed to investigate the role of pharmacovigilance in detecting risks associated with medication use and its influence on healthcare quality, emphasizing the pharmacist’s role. This is a narrative literature review conducted through searches in Google Scholar, SciELO, and LILACS databases. The results demonstrate that pharmacovigilance is essential for the identification, evaluation, and prevention of adverse drug reactions, contributing to the rational use of medicines and patient safety. It is concluded that strengthening pharmacovigilance depends on the integration among healthcare professionals, encouragement of a reporting culture, and the continuous implementation of educational actions.