Regulatory Trust Starts Here: The Business Case for a Qualified NCP

Jackie Roberts
Jun 19
2 min read

In the fast-evolving world of medicine safety, credibility is essential—and when it comes to the UK’s National Contact Person (NCP) for pharmacovigilance, expertise isn’t optional, it’s a necessity.

A Critical Role, Not a Checkbox

The UK NCP isn’t just a name on a form—it’s the MHRA’s primary point of contact for urgent safety issues. When signals arise, adverse reactions escalate, or regulatory action looms, the NCP must respond swiftly, clearly, and competently. That doesn’t just require an inbox—it demands pharmacovigilance understanding. Imagine this: a serious unexpected adverse reaction report lands in the middle of a public health concern. The MHRA calls the NCP. If that person can’t interpret the data, triage the signal, or coordinate the right response… we’re no longer talking about compliance—we’re talking about risk, and not only risk to patients but also corporate risks of further inspections.

Regulators Expect Expertise

The MHRA’s guidance is clear. While the UK QPPV holds overall responsibility, the NCP must be “appropriately trained” and able to support direct communication with the agency. That doesn’t mean outsourcing emails—it means understanding the language of safety, timelines, CAPAs, and signal thresholds. Anything less jeopardises compliance and increases the chance of enforcement.

Training Builds Trust

Trust is earned, and in the world of pharmacovigilance, it’s built on technical understanding and professional judgment. A trained NCP can speak the regulator’s language, flag potential weaknesses before they become findings, and support audits with confidence. They’re not just a messenger—they’re an informed partner in safeguarding patient safety. They also should keep the company clear on changes in UK legislation and the UK political context, this intelligence report should be produced monthly and sent to the UK-QPPV and relevant senior managers.

Future-Proofing the Role

As the UK forges its post-Brexit regulatory identity, the demands on pharmacovigilance professionals are only growing. The rise of real-world evidence, decentralised trials, and AI-driven surveillance means the NCP’s role will continue to evolve. Having a pharmacovigilance trained NCP isn’t just helpful—it’s what turns a compliance requirement into a strategic asset.

Bottom line? The UK NCP isn’t just a liaison—it’s a frontline guardian of patient safety. Let’s stop treating it as an admin role and start recognising it as the critical pharmacovigilance function it truly is.

At PharmaGuard we have trained pharmacovigilance professionals with years of experience who can act as your UK NCP or as your UK-QPPV. Contact us if you want to make this role in your company a strategic asset. If you are interested in seeing a NCP monthly report then please do contact us and we will send you an example of what we could produce for you.