FDA Launches #MedSafetyWeek for Enhanced Medicine Monitoring

In a joint effort, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), in collaboration with medicine regulatory agencies and non-governmental organizations, is launching a week-long medicine safety monitoring campaign called “#MedSafetyWeek” from November 6th to 12th, 2023.

The campaign’s primary objective, as stated in a press release sent to the Ghana News Agency, is to gather more information on known side effects of medicines and uncover new ones.

Emphasizing the importance of reporting side effects, the initiative aims to raise awareness among patients, caregivers, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists under the theme “Who can report.”

The focus will be on the crucial role played by individuals, encouraging them to report any side effects they encounter and contribute to ensuring the safety of medicines.

The continuous collection and monitoring of information from these reports will enable the FDA to identify risks associated with medicines, facilitating appropriate regulatory actions to enhance medicine safety.

To streamline the reporting process, the FDA recommends the use of reporting forms available in healthcare facilities and community pharmacies designated as patient safety centers. Additionally, individuals can utilize the Med Safety App, an electronic reporting tool available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

The FDA urges citizens to report to any of its regional offices nationwide for a thorough assessment, determining the necessary steps to protect public health and safety.

Over the years, the FDA has processed numerous reports where patients, caregivers, and health professionals played pivotal roles. The call to action is clear: every citizen is encouraged to contribute to safer medicines by promptly identifying and reporting any side effects.