Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the Continuing Education Unit, in collaboration with the Media and Government Communication Division and the Rehabilitation and Employment Unit at the University of Baghdad College of Pharmacy, held an in-person workshop entitled “Advances in Pharmacovigilance in Iraq,” delivered by Pharmacist Manal Muhammed Younis, Director of the Iraqi Pharmacovigilance Center.
The workshop aimed to enhance awareness of the importance of pharmacovigilance and to develop participants’ skills in reporting adverse drug reactions. It also highlighted the latest internationally adopted systems for monitoring drug safety, in addition to strengthening the role of healthcare professionals in supporting drug safety systems, thereby contributing to improved patient safety and higher quality healthcare services. These efforts are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, by reducing risks associated with medication use and promoting safer healthcare systems.
The workshop included several topics, including a detailed explanation of the concept of pharmacovigilance and its importance in enhancing patient safety, an overview of the current status of this field in Iraq and the challenges it faces, and discussions on reporting mechanisms for adverse drug reactions using standardized forms. It also addressed the role of modern technologies in improving pharmacovigilance systems, along with the presentation of applied case studies. Furthermore, it highlighted the role of the Iraqi Pharmacovigilance Center in monitoring drug safety.
The workshop concluded with an emphasis on the importance of strengthening the culture of adverse event reporting, expanding collaboration among healthcare institutions, and adopting advanced digital systems to enhance the efficiency of pharmacovigilance in Iraq.
