Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 3: Adverse Drug Reaction (AMC) Monitoring Centre, Department of Pharmacology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru; Under Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, National Co-ordination Centre -Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, secured the 2nd best-performing ADR monitoring centre in India among 1000-plus centres under AMC with the Pharmacovigilance associate category for the year 2025-2026. This achievement was based on the number of adverse drug reactions reported and community sensitisation on adverse drug reaction reporting done during the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week from September 17 to 23.
Awareness and sensitisation of adverse drug reactions and their reporting was done to the patients and to the community at Primary Health Centres and community health centres at Namma Clinic, Malavoor; Urban Primary Health Centres, Jeppu; Father Muller Urban Health Training Centre, Jyothinagar; Father Muller Salvadore Monteiro Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) in Bajpe and Health subcentres at Ammunje and Ammemar, Thumbay; Karambar school, Malavoor. This sensitization was done with the help of pamphlets and banners by Dr Chandralekha N, Prof & head, AMC coordinator, department of pharmacology, Dr Keerthana Melanta, Jr pharmacovigilance associate, post graduates- Dr Sharmi, Dr Amith, Dr Laalithya, Dr Sidharth, Dr Ashok, Dr Annie, Dr Shreya of pharmacology, doctors, interns posted at these centres from September 17th to 23rd.
The drug allergy card was released by Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, on September 30th. This initiative of the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Monitoring Centre, department of pharmacology, was introduced to mark the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week, observed from September 17 to 23. This drug allergy card will help in preventing inadvertent re-exposure to the offending or related drugs and prevent adverse drug reactions and will promote both medication and patient safety.
The drug allergy card release ceremony and prize distribution were graced by Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, director, Father Muller Charitable Institutions; chief guest- Dr Rajendra Holla, professor, Department of Pharmacology, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru; Dr Padmaja Udaykumar, professor and medication safety officer, Department of Pharmacology; Dr Chandralekha N, professor and head and ADR Monitoring Centre coordinator, Department of Pharmacology and Dr Scandashree S, associate professor, Department of Pharmacology, Dr Keerthana Melanta, junior pharmacovigilance associate.
Dr Padmaja Udaykumar, professor & medication safety officer, Department of Pharmacology was the organising chairperson, Dr Chandralekha N, professor and head, AMC co-ordinator, Dept of pharmacology was the organising secretary, Dr Keerthana Melanta is the junior pharmacovigilance associate was the joint organising secretary for the activities of the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week from September 17 to 23. Dr Akshatha Rao Aroor, professor, Department of Medicine is the deputy coordinator of the AMC.
Other activities conducted as a part of National Pharmacovigilance Week 2026,
1. Digital poser competition - under 2 categories were conducted
a) Topic: Pharmacovigilance of drugs affecting the liver and kidney: What, how and where to report
English posters: Winner - Yashitha M P -Pharm D intern, Karavali College of Pharmacy, Mangalore
Kannada posters: Winner- Lona Rheshal Gama- Pharm D intern, Karavali College of Pharmacy, Mangalore
b) Open category for faculty and students of medical, allied, physiotherapy, nursing, pharmacy, teaching and non-teaching staff of the hospital
1st prize - Dr Jenita Veigas (physician assistant, department of general medicine, FMHT)
2nd prize – Dr Shiji P J (professor, department of community nursing, FMCON)
2. Proactive Pharmacovigilance award for reporting highest number of Adverse Drug Reactions
Winner – Sana Roshan, pharm D intern, Karavali College of Pharmacy, Mangalore
Runner - Vailentina P Gonsalves, pharm D intern
The release of drug allergy card and prize distribution for all the winners were done on September, 30th at the inaugural of the CME- Beyond scales and sugars: Advances in metabolic pharmacotherapy.
The AMC coordinator thanked pharm D interns, doctors and nurses of the hospital, pharmacovigilance committee members for their support in reporting adverse drug reactions and also thanked Dr Padmaja Udaykumar, professor, medication safety officer, for being the driving force behind this achievement.
The event was attended by members of the faculty, postgraduates of Department of Pharmacology, pharmacovigilance committee, heads of departments, faculty members, postgraduate students and delegates from the institution and neighbouring medical colleges.