Pharmacovigilance is the branch of medicine that is responsible for the detection, assessment, and prevention of adverse reactions to drugs and other medical products. It is concerned with the safety of drugs and medical products that are available in the market. The term Pharmacovigilance is derived from two words: ‘pharmaco’ meaning drug and ‘vigilance’ implying close watch or monitoring.

Pharmacovigilance activities aim to enhance patient safety by continually monitoring the safety profile of drugs and other medical products. It focuses on identifying and evaluating any risks associated with the use of these products, and implementing appropriate measures to manage those risks.

The importance of pharmacovigilance has been recognized by regulatory bodies, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). These regulatory bodies require pharmaceutical companies to conduct pharmacovigilance activities as a condition of approval for marketing their drugs and other medical products.

Pharmacovigilance professionals play a vital role in ensuring the safety of drugs and medical products. They collect and analyze information about the safety profile of drugs and other medical products, and make recommendations for risk mitigation to regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals, and the general public.

In conclusion, Pharmacovigilance is a critical aspect of healthcare. It is responsible for ensuring the safety of drugs and other medical products to safeguard the health of patients. The importance of Pharmacovigilance has only increased with the increasing complexity of drugs and the varied medical products that come to the market.