PRESS RELEASE - A CALL TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC TO REPORT SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is participating in the 5th annual social media campaign on medicine safety called #MedSafetyWeek to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects from medicines to the FDA with the theme 'EVERY REPORT COUNTS'.

Medicines are safe and effective, but side effects, also known as adverse drug reactions, can happen. It is hard to predict who will experience a side effect, but it is essential that any potential risks, including how a medicine is used, are understood and communicated.

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 FDA 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.

Therefore, by reporting, you can help make medicines and other health products safer for everyone, and you help FDA protect the public's health through effective regulation.

Patient safety is always our top priority and we have identified a number of new safety issues that were previously unknown through reports received from patients, care givers, healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry.

You can report side effects to the FDA using the paper adverse reaction reporting forms available in healthcare facilities and community pharmacies nationwide, or through our various electronic channels listed below.

*Online for Healthcare professionals - http://adr.fdaghana.gov.gh/

*Online for patient/general - http://adr.fdaghana.gov.gh/patient.php

*Mobile app, Medsafety app, available on IOS and Google playstore

We hope that this important campaign encourages everyone to report suspected side effects from medicines. Every report counts and contributes to improving the safety of medicines for all patients.

Signed

DELESE A.A. DARKO (MRS)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER