Western Pacific

At the ISoP Annual Meeting in Liege in October 2006, delegates from New Zealand, the Philippines and Australia discussed the possibility of establishing a regional Chapter of ISoP. Subsequently, it was decided that this Chapter should include members from the countries in the WHO Western Pacific region (Table 1).

The Western Pacific Chapter was formally launched at the Annual ISoP Meeting in Bournemouth, UK in October 2007. The first co-ordinator of the Western Pacific Chapter was Dr Mira Harrison-Woolrych, former Director of the New Zealand Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme (IMMP), with Dr Suzette Lazo, former President of the Philippine Society of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, as Secretary of the Chapter. Dr Ian Boyd became Acting Co-ordinator in 2014, and from 2016-2019, Dr Richard Hill (Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia) was Chapter Co-ordinator, with Dr Ian Boyd as Chapter Secretary. From 2020, Associate Professor Jo Barnes (University of Auckland, New Zealand) became Chapter Co-ordinator, with Libano Dias (Australia) as Chapter Secretary. In November 2023, Dr Navinisha Lee (ARCS Australia Ltd) became Chapter Co-ordinator.

The International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) Western Pacific Chapter aims to enhance the science and practice of pharmacovigilance in the Western Pacific region. Representing the largest group of countries with diverse requirements and regulations, our objectives include fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, and the pharmaceutical industry to improve drug safety monitoring and reporting. We are dedicated to advancing education and training in pharmacovigilance, promoting research and development in drug safety, and supporting initiatives that ensure the well-being of patients through the safe use of medicines. By building a robust network of experts, the ISoP Western Pacific Chapter strives to contribute significantly to the global pharmacovigilance landscape.  

* Countries with current ISoP members
ISoP members in Taiwan and Thailand have also been included in the Western Pacific Chapter.

Collaborative Leadership and Reciprocal Membership Benefits: A New Era for ISoP Western Pacific Chapter and ARCS Australia

The International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) Western Pacific Chapter and ARCS Australia Ltd are delighted to announce a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the beginning of a new chapter in leadership and collaboration between these two distinguished organisations. This strategic alliance is designed to enhance the benefits provided to the members of both entities and to foster development within the biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceutical, and health innovation sectors.

The reciprocal partnership aims to enhance benefits for Western Pacific Chapter members, which includes discounted rates for each other’s events, mutual promotion through digital platforms, and the commitment to offer additional benefits periodically. Both organisations will also collaborate in policy advocacy and sector development (including competency building in Pharmacovigilance) to strengthen their impact within the biotechnology and healthcare industries.

This MoU between the ISoP Western Pacific Chapter and ARCS Australia represents a significant step forward in collaborative efforts to support and develop patient safety in the therapeutic goods sector. Through shared goals, mutual benefits, and a commitment to the advancement of the industry, this partnership is poised to create a lasting impact on the health innovation landscape.