Published: 4 November 2024
Safety Information
#MedSafetyWeek 2024
This year we celebrate the ninth annual #MedSafetyWeek. The Medicines Safety Week runs from 4 to 10 November 2024 with the goal to encourage everyone to report suspected side effects of medicines.
Medsafe is teaming up with 90 other countries to raise awareness of the prevention and reporting of side effects.
Medicines are continually monitored to ensure their safety. Reports of potential side effects from patients and healthcare professionals form an essential part of pharmacovigilance systems.
These reports help Medsafe monitor the safety of medicines after they have been placed on the market and take action when needed to improve patient safety.
Read the media statement.
All medicines can cause side effects. As a patient, you can help prevent them by taking your medicines as directed.
If you think you’re experiencing a side effect, talk to your healthcare professional and submit a report to Medsafe and CARM.
Learn about reporting side effects to Medsafe and CARM.
Medicines can provide benefits to many people but not all medicines are suitable for everyone
As a healthcare professional, you can help prevent side effects by reviewing treatment options before you provide them. Make sure the medicine is right for your patient and evaluate underlying risk factors, take care with special populations, and report suspected side effects to Medsafe and CARM.
Learn about reporting side effects to Medsafe and CARM.
Some side effects can be prevented by taking medicines safely. Here are five questions you can ask your healthcare professional to help you make informed decisions and reduce your risk of side effects:
- What is this medicine for?
- When and how should I take it?
- How should I store it?
- Can it interact with my other medicines?
- What are the side effects?
If you do experience a side effect, talk to your healthcare professional and then report it to Medsafe and CARM.
#MedSafetyWeek is wrapping up.
Remember, you can reduce the risk of side effects by taking medicines as directed. If you think you might be experiencing a side effect, talk to your healthcare professional and submit a report to Medsafe and CARM.
Your reports help Medsafe monitor medicines safety and take action when needed.
#MedSafetyWeek 2023
From 6 to 12 November 2023, medicine regulators and their stakeholders from 81 countries will come together to encourage everyone to report suspected side effects of medicines. This year's campaign focuses on the key role of every healthcare professional, patient, and carer who reports a suspected side effect and contributes to using medicines safely.
#MedSafetyWeek 2022
From 7 to 13 November 2022, medicines regulators from 81 countries focus on the key role of every healthcare professional, patient, and carer who reports a suspected side effect and contributes to using medicines safely.
#MedSafetyWeek 2021
From 1 to 7 November 2021, 64 medicine regulators and their stakeholders across the world are getting together to ecourage the reporting of suspected side effects following vaccination.
Read the Media Statement. Help make vaccines better for everyone by reporting suspected side effects.
Watch out for our tweets, join the conversation, and help us spread the word #MedSafetyWeek.
#MedSafetyWeek 2020
From 2 to 8 November 2020, 75 medicine regulators and their stakeholders across the world are taking part in a social media campaign to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects from medicines.
The theme for 2020 is 'every report counts' and can help others in future. This #MedSafetyWeek patients and carers, as well as healthcare professionals and their organisations are called upon to report side effects from medicines and are advised not to wait for someone else to report their suspicions.
Read the media statement 'Every report counts' - a call to healthcare professionals and the public to report suspected side effects this #MedSafetyWeek: 2-8 November 2020.
Did you watch out for our tweets, join the conversation, and help us spread the word #MedSafetyWeek?
#MedSafetyWeek 2019
From 25 to 29 November 2019, 57 medicine regulators across the world took part in a social media campaign to raise awareness of medicine side effects and the importance of reporting them.
The theme for 2019 was polypharmacy. Reporting side effects helps protect patients when taking multiple medicines.
Read the media statement Taking multiple medicines? Support the health care system by reporting suspected side effects this #MedSafetyWeek.
Did you watch out for our tweets, join the conversation, or help us spread the word #MedSafetyWeek?
Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Awareness Week 2018
From 19 to 23 November, 32 medicines regulators around the globe joined forces to encourage reporting side effects to medicines in children and pregnancy.
The theme for 2018 was to help make medicines safer by reporting suspected side effects in children and during pregnancy.
Read the media statement 'Help make medicines safer: report suspected side effects in children and during pregnancy'.
Did you watch out for our tweets, join the conversation, or help us spread the word? #medsafetyweek
Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Awareness Week 2017
The Uppsala Monitoring Centre in Sweden teamed up with medicine regulatory authorities in 27 countries to launch a social media awareness campaign on the importance of reporting adverse drug reactions.
Read more abouth this social media campaign
Thank you to the 'Uppsala Monitoring Centre, Uppsala Reports 78' for this article.
