What is the goal of post-marketing surveillance (PMS)?

• A. To monitor the ongoing safety of marketed drugs
• B. To identify new therapeutic indications for old drugs
• C. To regulate drug pricing
• D. To ensure manufacturing quality

Answer: (A)

Post-marketing surveillance is primarily about watching the safety of a drug once it’s on the market. This means gathering real-world data on adverse events and long-term effects that might not have shown up in clinical trials due to limited size or duration. Through spontaneous reports, observational studies, and active safety monitoring, regulators and manufacturers look for signals that a drug could pose new risks, assess how big those risks are, and decide whether labeling updates or risk-management actions are needed. That ongoing safety focus distinguishes PMS from other activities. While identifying new therapeutic uses, regulating prices, or ensuring manufacturing quality are important parts of healthcare and drug policy, they are not the main goal of post-marketing surveillance.