Public urged to report suspected side effects of drugs

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has called on the general public to report suspected side effects from medicines to the authority.

This caution by the FDA is in line with the 5th annual social media campaign on medicine safety called #MedSafetyWeek.

The campaign under the theme ‘Every Report Counts’ is to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects from medicines to the FDA.

A statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the FDA, Delese A. Darko, explained that although Medicines are safe and effective, but side effects, also known as adverse drug reactions, can happen.

She added that although it is hard to predict who will experience a side effect, it is essential that  any potential risks, including how a medicine is used, are understood and communicated.

The FDA said with the help of Technical Advisory Committees carry out analysis of safety reports received and takes regulatory actions including education for patients and healthcare professionals to reduce the risk associated with the medicines, label changes to provide additional information on the risk-benefit profile of the medicines, withdrawal of the medicine from the market, etc, to protect public health and safety.

“During this MedSafetyWeek, patients and care givers, as well as healthcare professionals and their organisations, are being called upon to report suspected side effects from  medicines and are advised not to wait for someone else to report their suspicions. Reporting helps to identify new side effects or unexpected and serious safety problems with medicines (including herbals), vaccines and  other health products in order to gain more information about known effects,” the statement added.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

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