What is pharmacovigilance?

Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problems. It is an important aspect of drug safety, compliance, and a crucial aspect of public health.

How does it work?

The process involves monitoring the safety of drugs from the time they are approved for use until they are no longer on the market. This requires the collection and analysis of data from a variety of sources, including spontaneous reporting by patients and healthcare professionals, clinical trials, and post-marketing studies.

Where does social media come in?

While social media has revolutionised the way brands interact with their customers, it’s important to remember that it’s a two-way communication channel. This means that users can potentially mention adverse events (AEs) while engaging with your brand and legally, pharmaceutical companies have the responsibility to report these within 24hrs. This is probably why companies fear engaging on social media, however by:

• Partnering with a reputable digital marketing agency like us, helping escalate AEs within the legally required 24hr timeframe;
• Implementing the correct processes from the start when embarking on a social media initiative, such as a community management matrix (consisting of preapproved response matrix based on frequently asked questions to improve response rate and streamline your community management effort);
• Using monitoring software to help identify themes, manage messages, track mentions of your brand and potential AEs;
• Appointing a community manager for 7/365 platform and compliance issues management.

As a pharmaceutical brand, you no longer have to fear engaging on social media, in fact, you can use it to your advantage.

To learn more about how social media is a powerful tool for healthcare brands to drive business objectives, connect with their ideal audiences, increase brand awareness, and educate patients and healthcare professionals. Read our article: HOW TO MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA WORK FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL BRAND here.

If your business needs support with pharmacovigilance and risk mitigation, request a call with one of our digital specialists here or mail us at: info@socialmedia101.co.za.

INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH
AN AGENCY SPECIALISING IN HEALTHCARE?