News Category: Regulatory news
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."
About the campaign
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National medicines regulatory authorities from 74 countries across the globe and their stakeholders will be taking part in this international campaign led by Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring. The campaign is supported by members of the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).
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The HPRA is responsible for protecting and improving the health of people every day through the effective regulation of all medicines and medical devices in Ireland by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
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Patients, including their carers, and healthcare professionals are asked to report their suspicions of side effects through our online reporting form.
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Patients are advised to contact a healthcare professional if they are worried about their health.