By Kuda Pembere
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is urging patients and healthcare professionals to report suspected adverse reactions to medicines as part of a global campaign running from November 2 to 8.
The call comes after the regulator received 537 medicine safety reports between January and September 2024, according to its 2024 bulletin, as it stepped up efforts to strengthen pharmacovigilance and patient safety.
The Authority said the introduction of electronic reporting platforms, including VigiMobile and VigiFlow, had improved the time taken to report vaccine-related adverse events.
The 2026 #MedSafetyWeek campaign, involving 140 organisations from 130 countries, will run under the message: “Don’t ignore suspected side effects, report them.”
MCAZ Director-General Richard Rukwata said reports from patients and healthcare professionals helped regulators monitor medicine safety, identify potential risks and take action to protect the public.
“Reports from the public and healthcare professionals have a vital role in helping us monitor the safety of medicines. Every report adds to our understanding about patient safety and can help protect others from future harm,” he said.
Some side effects may appear suddenly, while others develop gradually, including after long-term use of a medicine. Others may be silent and only detected through medical tests.
Rukwata said side effects could be more likely when patients start taking a new medicine, change their dosage or combine medicines with certain foods or herbal remedies.
He advised patients to read the information leaflet supplied with their medicines and discuss known side effects with healthcare professionals.
Patients should also report symptoms they suspect may be linked to a medicine, particularly if the reactions are serious, interfere with daily activities or are not listed in the patient information leaflet.
The Authority said patients did not need to be certain that a medicine had caused a symptom before reporting it.
“Reporting suspected side effects may seem like a small action, but it helps to make medicines safer for everyone. If you suspect a side effect, don’t ignore it, report it!” Rukwata said.
This year’s campaign is expected to be the largest to date, with participating organisations sharing medicine safety messages in more than 60 languages.
MCAZ is encouraging patients and healthcare professionals to support the campaign through awareness events, websites, newsletters and social media discussions using the hashtag #MedSafetyWeek.
