ADR monitoring in Nepal

Status of ADR monitoring programme in Nepal

WHO programme for International Drug monitoring is an important programme to record adverse reaction of drugs worldwide. The Uppsala Monitoring Centre at Sweden coordinates the activities. All the member countries send reports generated in their country by an online system called Vigibase online. Nepal has expressed its commitment to join as a member and as of September 2005, has got the status of Associate member. Membership will be granted once Uppsala monitoring centre (UMC) is satisfied that Nepal is doing ADR reporting properly. His Majesty's Government, Ministry of Health and Population has designated Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Kathmandu, as a national center for ADR Monitoring.

Monitoring ADRs: Need and methodes

Need for ADR monitoring: ADRs are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality and can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life. Studies have shown that ADRs are responsible for a significant number of hospital admissions, with reports ranging from 0.3% to as high as 11%. ADRs also have a significant impact on the healthcare costs. Studies have estimated that the occurrence of an ADR increased the cost of patient care by $2262 per patient.

Another study has estimated the cost of preventable ADRs in a 700 bed hospital to be $2.8 million per annum.