Every side effect reported to the HPRA helps to improve the safety of medicines for all patients

Launched today, the ninth annual global #MedSafetyWeek campaign is running until 10 November to encourage everyone to report suspected side effects of medicines.

This year’s global campaign involves medicines regulators from 107 organisations across 94 countries. This year’s theme centres on the importance of using medicines correctly to prevent side effects and reporting side effects when they do occur.

Medicines help millions of people to treat illness, but they can also cause side effects. By using medicines correctly, we can reduce the risk of side effects. By reporting side effects when they occur, we can make medicines safer for everyone.

Medicines regulators worldwide have reporting systems to monitor the safety of medicines. The purpose is to gain more knowledge about known side effects and identify new ones. This can result in warnings or changes to how a medicine is used. In Ireland, anyone – including patients and healthcare professionals – can report side effects online at hpra.ie/report. The HPRA assesses and examines all reports to determine the correct steps to protect medicine users from harm.

“Patient safety is our top priority. We approve advice on the safe and appropriate use of a medicine based on scientific evidence, which is rigorously assessed. Following this advice can reduce your risk of side effects says Sinead Curran, Director of Human Products Monitoring. “During the #MedSafetyWeek campaign, we want to remind patients to read the package leaflet for their medicine and take as instructed by a healthcare professional. We remind healthcare professionals to review the latest advice in the approved product information for a medicine before prescribing to a patient.”

During #MedSafetyWeek 2024, everyone can help promote the campaign’s message by sharing social media posts from the HPRA.

“We encourage reporting of any suspected side effect to the HPRA and we appreciate the time taken by many healthcare professionals and members of the public who make reports to us. It is easy to think only scientists or healthcare professionals can make medicines safer. As a medicine user, you – the patient – play a crucial role”, Curran added. “Every time you report a suspected side effect to the HPRA, you help make medicines safer for patients all around the world.”

Join us in making medicines safer for everyone.

Anyone can report suspected side effects to the HPRA. You can submit a report  by visiting  the HPRA’s reporting webpage to complete an online form hpra.ie/report.