Pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic medicines in Nepal

Abstract

The term “pharmaco” is derived from greek word “pharmacon” which means the medicine and the term “vigilance” is derived from latin word “vigilantia” which means alertness, wakefulness, watchfulness or attentiveness. WHO established its program for International Drug Monitoring in response to the thalidomide disaster detected in 1961. The aims of Pharmacovigilance are to enhance patient care and patient safety in relation to the use of medicines; and to support public health programs by providing reliable, balanced information for the effective assessment of the risk-benefit profile of medicines.