The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is participating in the fifth annual social media campaign called #MedSafetyWeek to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects from medicines to the national regulator.
The theme of the campaign is ‘every report counts’ and can help others in the future. This #MedSafetyWeek patients and carers, as well as healthcare professionals and their organisations, are called upon to report suspected side effects from medicines and are advised not to wait for someone else to report their suspicions.
Medicines are safe and effective, but side effects, also known as adverse drug reactions, can happen. It’s hard to predict who will experience a side effect but it is essential that any potential risks, including how a medicine is used, are understood and communicated.
Reporting helps to identify new side effects or unexpected and serious safety problems and gain more information about known effects. By reporting, you can help make medicines safer for everyone, and you help the HPRA protect the public’s health through effective regulation.
Sinead Curran, Director of Human Products Monitoring, said: “Patient safety is always a top priority for the HPRA. We hope that this important campaign encourages everyone to report suspected side effects from medicines. Reporting is invaluable as it allows us to learn more about new or known risks of medicines. Every report counts and contributes to improving the safety of medicines for all patients.”
