09 / 2025
Joint press release from Paul-Ehrlich-Institut and BfArM
By reporting suspected side effects, everyone can help make medicines safer for all. That is the core message of this year's #MedSafetyWeek campaign. The international campaign calls on people to report suspected side effects to the relevant medicines authorities so that potential risks can be identified at an early stage. From 3 to the 9 November 2025, more than 130 organisations from over 115 countries will be taking part in the #MedSafetyWeek campaign, which is being held for the tenth time this year. In Germany, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM) and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI), the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Products, are responsible for receiving and evaluating reports of suspected cases.
Source: Uppsala Monitoring Centre
The international #MedSafetyWeek campaign is coordinated by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), a collaboration centre of the World Health Organisation (WHO). This year's theme is ‘We can all help make medicines safer’. The focus is on all of us: healthcare professionals, patients and their relatives. Not all side effects of a medicine can be identified before it is authorised. Suspected adverse reaction reports therefore provide important information about potential risks and help to identify new or rare side effects at an early stage, enabling appropriate measures to be taken to protect patient safety. In Germany, suspected adverse side effects of medicines can be reported easily and directly to the competent authorities, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut or the BfArM via the online reporting portal www.nebenwirkungen.bund.de.
Source: T.Jansen/Paul-Ehrlich-Institut
Only together we can strengthen the safety of medicines. Reports from doctors, pharmacists and patients are an indispensable part of pharmacovigilance. #MedSafetyWeek raises awareness worldwide of the importance of these suspected adverse reaction reports. As the competent federal authorities, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut and the BfArM are key partners in the drug safety system and are committed to ensuring that the findings from these reports contribute to the protection of patients worldwide.
Professor Dr Stefan Vieths (President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut)
Source: BfArM/Jörn Wolter
Every report counts. Only with information from the broad use of a medicinal product can risk signals be identified early and, if necessary, effective measures can be taken to protect patients. Patients should therefore report any cases of suspected side effects to the BfArM and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut immediately. The easiest way to do this is via our joint online portal. This ensures that these reports reach us directly and are incorporated into official risk monitoring as quickly as possible.
Professor Dr Karl Broich (President of the BfArM)
You too can be part of the #MedSafetyWeek by sharing the message of BfArM and Paul-Ehrlich-Institut on your personal and/or professional social media channels during the campaign week starting on 3 November. Spreading the message widely helps to raise awareness of adverse drug reactions and encourages more people to report suspected cases.
Updated: 30.10.2025
