Who Can Start a Career in Pharmacovigilance – Skills, Tools & Salary Insights
Date: 8th July 2025, Tuesday
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
Location: Online Webinar
BioTecNika hosted an insightful and forward-thinking webinar titled “Careers in Pharmacovigilance: Myths, Skills & Growth Strategies” on July 8th, 2025. The session was led by esteemed expert Mr. Umesh Kumar, Associate Director at IQVIA RDS (India) Private Limited, who brought over two decades of global experience in healthcare operations, pharmacovigilance, and clinical data science.
This live session attracted a diverse group of life science aspirants, pharmacy graduates, and clinical research professionals eager to explore career opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of pharmacovigilance.
Pharmacovigilance – A Critical Pillar of Drug Safety
The session began with Mr. Umesh Kumar highlighting the growing importance of pharmacovigilance in both drug development and post-marketing phases. He emphasized its pivotal role in monitoring adverse drug reactions (ADRs), supporting regulatory decisions, and ultimately safeguarding patient health.
Participants gained clarity on how pharmacovigilance has evolved from a back-end function into a strategic component of global clinical research and pharmaceutical innovation.
Pharmacovigilance Training – Limited seats left!
✔️ Learn MedDRA
✔️ Real-world Projects
✔️ Placement Support
Key Takeaways from the Webinar
- Clarified Eligibility: Life sciences, pharmacy, and medical graduates—whether freshers or experienced—can enter the pharmacovigilance domain with the right training and mindset.
- Myth-Busting: Common misconceptions, such as “Only doctors can do PV” or “Coding knowledge is mandatory,” were addressed with facts and real-world examples.
- Must-Have Skills: The speakers emphasized a blend of domain knowledge (e.g., ADRs, safety reporting, clinical trials), strong communication/documentation abilities, and understanding of regulatory guidelines like ICH and WHO.
- Tools in Practice: From Argus and ArisG to Oracle Safety One and MedDRA coding, the tools most commonly used in pharmacovigilance were demonstrated and discussed in terms of application.
- Salary & Job Trends: Realistic salary ranges for pharmacovigilance roles across CROs, pharma companies, and KPOs were shared, covering entry-level to senior positions.
Speaker Highlights
Ms. Geethanjali K.
Topic: Career in Pharmacovigilance & Required Skill Set
Ms. Geethanjali delivered a comprehensive primer on what pharmacovigilance entails and who can step into the field. She discussed how roles like Drug Safety Associate serve as the foundation for growth into managerial and consulting roles. She explained the core domains of pharmacovigilance—such as adverse drug reactions (ADR), clinical trial reporting, and safety databases—while stressing the importance of communication, documentation, and regulatory understanding. Importantly, she addressed myths about eligibility, making it clear that pharmacovigilance is an inclusive field with vast career potential.
Mr. Umesh Kumar
Topic: Tools Used in PV & Salary Insights – Real-World Perspective
Mr. Umesh brought an industry-aligned viewpoint, breaking down the technical side of pharmacovigilance. He showcased widely used tools like Oracle Argus, ArisG, and MedDRA, explaining how these platforms support safety data entry, coding, and global reporting. Through screenshots and real-case references, he simplified tool applications for beginners. He also walked attendees through current salary trends, showing how Indian and international PV roles offer rewarding opportunities. From CROs to KPOs, he explained the scope across various sectors and the value of hands-on tool experience for job-readiness.
Speaker Spotlight:
Mr. Umesh Kumar – A Leader in Global Healthcare Operations
Umesh Kumar is the Associate Director of Clinical Operations at IQVIA RDS (India) Private Limited, with over 20 years of experience spanning biotechnology, pharmacovigilance, medical writing, and clinical data science. His global exposure spans the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, and Asia.
An award-winning healthcare professional, Umesh was recently honored with the Excellence in Healthcare Award at the Health 2.0 Conference, Las Vegas (2025). At IQVIA, he leads initiatives in Risk-Based Monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation in clinical trials.
His portfolio includes successful contributions to global studies in oncology, diabetes, infectious diseases, and vaccines. He is also known for pioneering the development of SOPs, training, and international presentations.
Dr. Geetanjali K – Associate Support Specialist, Pharmacovigilance
A senior pharmacovigilance expert discussed foundational roles and the career trajectory from data collection to strategic oversight. She emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance and real-world application of safety monitoring.
About BioTecNika
BioTecNika is a leading platform for biosciences education and career empowerment. It offers cutting-edge training and expert-led webinars in biotechnology, pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, and clinical research, helping students and professionals thrive in a competitive global industry.
