The Common Management Unit hosted Pakistan’s first national training on strengthening pharmacovigilance for TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria on 29 September 2025 at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Islamabad. The full-day event focused on building practical skills in adverse drug reaction reporting, VigiFlow utilization and active drug safety monitoring to better integrate pharmacovigilance into disease control programmes.
Representatives from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, the World Health Organization, UNDP, ACD, Mercy Corps and Indus Health Network attended to exchange technical guidance and align reporting workflows. The pharmacovigilance training featured expert sessions, live demonstrations of VigiFlow and collaborative dialogue to strengthen national capacity for ADR reporting across TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria services.
The programme was led by Dr. Seema Saifuddin, Ms. Sania Nawaz Khan and Ms. Hafiza Ayesha Hameed, with special recognition for the DRAP team including Dr. Akhtar Abbas Khan, Mr. Abdul Mateen and Ms. Aqsa Hashmi, who received shields in appreciation of their contributions. Organisers acknowledged the support of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, especially Dr. Ayaz Mustafa, Deputy National Coordinator CMU.
Participants reported high satisfaction with the practical focus and outcomes, describing the national pharmacovigilance training as a significant milestone in integrating drug safety into Pakistan’s TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria programmes. Stakeholders noted that strengthened ADR reporting and active monitoring will support safer treatment delivery and improved patient care across the country.
