The evolution of pharmacovigilance system in Bangladesh: present landscape and strategic priorities

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represent a significant public health issue, substantially contributing to preventable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures globally. Pharmacovigilance is important for protecting public health and ensuring safe and effective medicine use, especially in low- and middle-income countries where regulatory systems are still developing. Bangladesh has achieved significant advancements in developing a national pharmacovigilance framework under the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), which includes the establishment of an Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring (ADRM) cells, involvement in the World Health Organization Programme for International Drug Monitoring, and the introduction of national pharmacovigilance guidelines. Despite these efforts, Bangladesh's pharmacovigilance system is still in its infancy and faces a number of challenges, such as significant underreporting of ADRs, a lack of awareness and training among healthcare professionals (HCPs), insufficient enforcement of regulations, inadequate technology infrastructure, and weak stakeholder coordination. The commentary will narrate the current status of pharmacovigilance in Bangladesh, identify the key challenges and potential areas for strengthening the system.