Patients and health professionals are being urged by the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health to report every suspected side effect from medicines, in connection with the international #MedSafetyWeek campaign.
In an announcement, the Services say reports help monitor the safety of medicines, enabling the relevant regulatory authorities to identify potential risks and take the necessary measures.
Cyprus is taking part in the campaign with the message, “Don’t ignore suspected side effects – report them.” The campaign runs from 2 to 8 November and is expected to be the largest to date. More than 130 organisations in over 120 countries will deliver its message in more than 60 languages.
The Pharmaceutical Services are calling on the public to take part through online and local information and awareness-raising activities, and by sharing the campaign’s messages on social media using the hashtag #MedSafetyWeek.
Reporting side effects
The aim is to inform and raise public awareness of the importance of reporting potential side effects from medicines. As the Services note, medicines save lives and improve the health of millions of people, but they can cause side effects. These may appear suddenly, gradually or even after long-term use. Some are easy to notice, while others have no obvious symptoms and are detected only through tests.
Particular care is needed, they add, when starting a new medicine, after a dose change, or when different medicines, foods or herbal products are combined.
Citizens are urged to read the package leaflet for each medicine and consult a health professional about its known side effects. If a symptom appears that may be linked to treatment, it is important to report it, particularly if it is serious, affects everyday life or is not listed in the package leaflet.
The Services stress that certainty that the medicine caused the symptom is required in order to make a report. Every piece of information, they note, contributes to a better understanding of medicine safety and may protect other patients from potential harm.
Source: CNA
