11 / 2024
Joint press release from Paul-Ehrlich-Institut and BfArM
For the ninth time, medicines authorities around the world are calling to report suspected adverse drug reactions during #MedSafetyWeek. A total of 104 organisations from 91 countries will participate in the international campaign, which runs from the 4th to the 10th of November, 2024. This year's focus is on preventable side effects, such as those resulting from medication errors. These types of adverse events should also be reported in order to make the entire path of a medicinal product – from provision to prescription to administration – even safer. In Germany, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI), the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, evaluate suspected case reports received jointly via www.nebenwirkungen.bund.de.
Source: Uppsala Monitoring Centre
The motto of this year's #MedSafetyWeek is "Preventing side effects". The focus is on medication errors and preventable side effects. The theme aims to remind patients to take their medications only as prescribed. It is also intended to raise awareness among healthcare professionals of the need to ensure that medicinal products are prescribed and administered correctly.
The Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) has been coordinating the annual #MedSafetyWeek campaign to call attention to the importance of reporting adverse medicinal product reactions since 2017. Both patients and healthcare professionals should be encouraged to report suspected side effects.
"Reports of suspected side effects play an important role in identifying potential safety signals from medicinal products and allow authorities to take any necessary measures to protect patients or vaccinees. A suspected side effect can be reported quickly and easily online via the BfArM and Paul-Ehrlich-Institut's joint reporting portal,"
explained Professor Stefan Vieths, Acting President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.
"Side effects are not limited to what is listed in the package leaflet. The Medicinal Products Act states that a side effect is any harmful and unintended reaction to a medicinal product,"
emphasised Professor Karl Broich, President of the BfArM. "It is all the more important for patient safety that reactions related to medication errors, medicinal product misuse, or other improper use are also reported."
Help make medicinal products even safer by reporting suspected side effects – this is the global appeal from health authorities. Everyone is welcome to help spread this message on social media during the campaign week by using the hashtag #MedSafetyWeek and sharing contributions from participating medicines authorities. The campaign kicks off on the 4th of November!
Updated: 31.10.2024
