APhA Policy Manual

Post-marketing Surveillance

POST-MARKETING SURVEILLANCE

APhA supports and encourages the active participation of pharmacists in initiating, organizing, and maintaining post-marketing surveillance programs including, but not limited to, adverse drug reaction reporting and drug product problem reporting for drugs and other health care products.
APhA recognizes post-marketing surveillance as a process that systematically and comprehensively monitors the patterns of use and the harmful or beneficial effects (whether expected or unexpected) of prescription and non-prescription drugs and other health care products as they are used in the general population. The ultimate purpose of post-marketing surveillance is to develop and systematically disseminate information that can be used to provide safe and cost-effective drug therapy.
APhA supports the development of educational programs to foster the active involvement of pharmacy practitioners and students in post-marketing surveillance programs.
APhA encourages public and private collaboration in the funding and development of post-marketing surveillance methodologies and programs.
APhA encourages FDA and the pharmaceutical industry to actively involve pharmacists in spontaneous adverse reaction reporting systems and to provide appropriate and timely feedback on collected data.