Based on the WHO definition pharmacovigilance is “scientific research related to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse reactions or any other problems associated with medical drugs.” The ” thalidomide tragedy” caused creation of pharmacovigilance in EU.
During just a few years of existing on the drug market, thalidomide became the cause of birth of thousands of babies with phocomelia ( “seal limbs”) among women who were taking it during pregnancy. It was exactly after this incident, that there appeared companies providing services in the area of drug safety and pharma products launch strategies.

Britain is a country that has one of the most advanced pharmacovigilance systems. It was in this state that the drugs monitoring system was introduced as a law in 1968. Later, on the basis of experience gained from the UK, the main follow-up mechanisms have been developed. The bottom line is the method, which is called “Driving a yellow card.” And application in the form of a yellow card that can be submitted by any health care worker who has revealed adverse side effects from the drug. Voluntariness and interest of health professionals in this procedure is crucial for the system.

Up-to-date, almost all pharmacological products producers, carry out extensive research of drugs before launching them in the market. Tests that are carried out prior to the sale help to identify contraindications and side effects. More and more companies seek specialists’ help in developing a strategy of pharmacological product launch.

Drug safety services are becoming more and more popular. Every year large number of diseases and new unknown drugs appear in the world. After 40 years pharmacovigilance remains a dynamic industry that is capable of providing security in the use of drugs by humans. Due to the openness of information about their activities pharmacovigilance organizations have every opportunity to improve their quality control system.