Enhancing Pharmacovigilance in Sub-Saharan Africa Through Training and Mentoring: A GSK Pilot Initiative in Malawi

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacovigilance (PV) systems to monitor drug and vaccine safety are often inadequate in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, a PV enhancement initiative was introduced to address major barriers to PV. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this initiative was to improve reporting of adverse events (AEs) by strengthening passive safety surveillance via PV training and mentoring of local PV stakeholders and healthcare providers (HCPs) at their own healthcare facilities (HCFs). METHODS: An 18-month PV training and mentoring programme was implemented in collaboration with national stakeholders, and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, GSK and PATH. Two-day training was provided to Expanded Programme on Immunisation coordinators, identified as responsible for AE reporting, and four National Regulatory Authority representatives. Abridged PV training and mentoring were provided regularly to HCPs. Support was given in upgrading the national PV system. Key performance indicators included the number of AEs reported, transmission of AE forms, completeness of reports, serious AEs reported and timeliness of recording into VigiFlow. RESULTS: In 18 months, 443 HCPs at 61 HCFs were trained. The number of reported AEs increased from 22 (January 2000 to October 2016) to 228 (November 2016 to May 2018), enabling Malawi to become a member of the World Health Organization Programme for International Drug Monitoring. Most (98%) AE report forms contained mandatory information on reporter, event, patient and product, but under 1% were transmitted to the national PV office within 48 h. CONCLUSION: Regular PV training and mentoring of HCPs were effective in enhancing passive safety surveillance in Malawi, but the transmission of reports to the national PV centre requires further improvement.