Save the date for #MedSafetyWeek: 2–8 November 2026

30/09/2026 Public health update

Inviting patient organisations and healthcare professionals to help spread the message: Don’t ignore side effects – report them. 

#MedSafetyWeek will take place from 2 to 8 November 2026, bringing together medicines regulators and other organisations in more than 100 countries to promote the reporting of suspected side effects from medicines.

We are inviting patient organisations, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to support this year's campaign. Whether you have supported #MedSafetyWeek before or are taking part for the first time, your support can help more people recognise possible side effects and know how to report them.

What is #MedSafetyWeek and why is it important?

#MedSafetyWeek is an annual global campaign that raises awareness of the importance of reporting suspected side effects. It is coordinated by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre, which operates the World Health Organization Programme for International Drug Monitoring. National medicines regulators, including the HPRA, take part each year to encourage reporting and support medicine safety.

The 2026 theme is "Don't ignore side effects. Report them." The campaign will encourage patients and healthcare professionals to stay alert for possible side effects and to report them promptly to us by visiting hpra.ie/report.

Reports of suspected side effects help improve understanding of the safety of a medicine and can help identify potential safety issues sooner. When people report side effects, it helps us to make medicines safer for everyone.

How you can support the campaign

There are many ways to get involved. Taking part can be as simple as liking and sharing HPRA social media posts, or you can use our ready-made materials to further support the campaign. 

We are grateful to the organisations that have supported #MedSafetyWeek in previous years. Your support helps us reach more people with this important message and encourages reporting of suspected side effects. If you are new to the campaign, we invite you to join us this year. Anyone with an interest in medicine safety can support #MedSafetyWeek, including patients, patient organisations, healthcare professionals, hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

Ways to support the campaign include:

  • Simply like and share HPRA social media posts during #MedSafetyWeek.
  • Tell your members, colleagues or other audiences about the campaign.
  • Share campaign images and animated videos through your own channels.
  • Display our ready-made posters in hospitals, pharmacies or other relevant settings.
  • Share the campaign's main messages through your website, newsletters and other communications channels.

Information and resources for supporting #MedSafetyWeek

Learn more about #MedSafetyWeek and how to take part by visiting How to support #MedSafetyWeek | FAQs. You'll find information about the campaign, answers to common questions, and links to the HPRA's social media channels.

If you are ready to download campaign materials, visit our #MedSafetyWeek resources. You can access posters and other resources for using during #MedSafetyWeek. Please note that the materials are for use during the week of the campaign only (2-8 November). They are available to download in advance to help you prepare beforehand.