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Local health services are calling on islanders to report suspected side effects of medications as part of the fifth annual #MedSafetyWeek.
The social media campaign hopes to show people across the globe that "every report counts" by emphasising the importance of reporting adverse drug reactions to the Yellowcard Scheme, which helps to measure medicines against appropriate standards for safety and quality.
HSC Pharmacy Manager Janine Clarke said that the scheme has identified many safety issues that were otherwise unknown.
“For example, it was a concern of a pharmacist of the UK that patients may inadvertently choke on the capsules they were using in their inhalers if they put the capsule in the wrong place, so it was reported to the MHRA who worked with the manufacturers to improve the inhaler design,” she said.
“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.”
Reporting the unintended effects can help to identify unexpected or serious safety problems.
“By reporting, you can help make medicines safer for everyone, and you help the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) protect the public’s health through effective regulation."
Anyone can report side effects directly to Yellowcard by logging onto yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk and following the instructions given on the website.
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