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Pharmacovigilance (PV) is a field of pharmacological science that aims to reduce the risks of medicines for consumers. Pharmaceutical firms are responsible for monitoring the safety of their products and may choose to approach a recruitment agency in order to hire staff for pharmacovigilance jobs.
What is Pharmacovigilance?
Pharmacovigilance is a discipline that is concerned with the detection and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in medical products. Jobs in pharmacovigilance can be diverse but are largely responsible for collecting data from patients and healthcare providers in order to identify the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Reports gained through a pharmacovigilance agreement (PVA) will then be provided to the relevant healthcare authorities. This will be used to limit any potential threats to patient safety.
Salaries and entry requirements
A salary for a drug safety associate usually starts at £20K-£30K and will see only a minor increase over the first three years in the role. Experience may see a candidate progress to a senior position such as that of a drug safety manager or pharmacovigilance director, where earnings can exceed £60K. A qualified person for pharmacovigilance (QPPV) will earn £80K+.
When looking for pharmacovigilance staff, recruitment agencies will typically search for candidates with a pharmaceutical or life science degree. A scientific knowledge is key to a position in drug safety, while employers will also favour applicants who have experience with development safety update records (DSURs). Research and organisational skills are valued highly, as is the ability to communicate effectively.
Recruitment in Pharmacovigilance
Recruitment agencies that place pharmacovigilance staff will most commonly fill vacancies within pharmaceutical and drug development firms. Much of the demand for personnel comes from clients based in London and the Home Counties, however there is a spread of SMEs across the country. Pharmacovigilance consultancies also offer employment opportunities to candidates and a recruiter may list a range of drug safety service providers amongst it's clients.
Find recruitment agencies that place pharmacovigilance professionals by tailoring your search below.