Challenges in Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety

On 19 March 2012, 110 healthcare professionals, academics, government officials, researchers and pharmaceutical associates attended the "Third Annual Symposium on Pharmacovigilance – Challenges in Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety" held at the Postgraduate Education Centre of the Prince of Wales Hospital.  This Symposium was organised by Centre for Food and Drug Safety, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, Department of Health and Hospital Authority.  At the Opening Ceremony, Prof. Thomas Y.K. Chan (right 1, front row), Director of Centre for Food and Drug Safety and Mr. Richard M.F. Yuen, JP (right 4, front row), Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health) delivered the welcome remarks and opening address.  Other invited guests included Dr. Gloria Tam, JP (left 4, front row), Deputy Director of Health, Dr. Heston Kwong (right 3, front row), Assistant Director (Drug), Department of Health, Dr. Joseph Lui (right 2, front row), Chairman of Medication Safety Committee, Hospital Authority and Prof. Vincent H.L. Lee (left 1, front row).  Prof. Hervé Le Louet (left 3, front row), Head of Department of Pharmacovigilance, University Paris-Est Créteil and Prof. Brian Tomlinson (left 2, front row) were the keynote speakers.  The objective of the Symposium was to emphasise the importance of pharmacovigilance in ensuring the safe use of medicines in everyday practice and to promote the safe, rational and more effective use of medicines.  The Symposium also provided a platform for the participants to exchange knowledge on how their joint efforts can help safeguard the efficacy, safety and quality of the medicines available in the market.