Ireland joins 10th anniversary campaign for safer use of medicines

Everyone can play a role in medicines safety. By reporting suspected side effects, you and I can help make medicines safer for everyone. That’s the core message of this year’s #MedSafetyWeek campaign, now in its tenth year.

The HPRA is one of 130 partner organisations worldwide taking part in this campaign, which runs from 3–9 November 2025. Together, we’re encouraging patients, families, and healthcare professionals to report any suspected side effects, because each report can help protect others.

Medicines save lives and improve the health of millions of people globally. Sometimes they can also cause unintended side effects. By reporting suspected side effects when they do occur, regulators such as the HPRA can take action to make medicines safer. Regulatory agencies around the world use reports from patients and healthcare professionals as a valued source of information to monitor the safety of medicines and respond to any potential risks.

The HPRA received almost 8,000 reports of suspected side effects in 2024. Reports of suspected side effects are strongly encouraged, as each additional report contributes valuable information that can help ensure the highest standards of safety for everyone. 

“When someone takes the time to report a suspected side effect to the HPRA, they help strengthen our collective understanding of medicine safety. This helps ensure we can optimise how we manage risks of side effects and can enhance the benefits of medicines for patients. By raising awareness through #MedSafetyWeek, we want more people to know that their report matters” says Dr Darren Scully, manager in the HPRA’s medicine safety monitoring department. Suspected side effects can be reported via the HPRA website: hpra.ie/report

Common reasons for not reporting suspected side effects from medicines include not knowing it’s possible, not thinking it matters, or simply forgetting. That’s why the #MedSafetyWeek campaign was founded in 2016 to raise awareness of why, how, and where to report side effects. The 2025 tenth anniversary edition will be the largest so far, with 130 organisations in 117 countries committed to sharing the #MedSafetyWeek message in more than 60 languages.

“By reporting suspected side effects, you and I have the power to make medicines safer for everyone. Taking the time to report could help protect someone else. It’s not only doctors, pharmacists, or regulators; everyone can contribute. That is a core message of this campaign: that we can all play a role in medicines safety,” says Darren Scully.

From 3–9 November 2025, everyone can help promote the #MedSafetyWeek message by using the hashtag and sharing social media posts from the HPRA and other participating organisations. 

ENDS

For further information

Káno Communications Tel: (01) 679 8600   

Siobhán Molloy / Sinead Brassil (086) 817 5066 / 086 057 9298