SAHPRA Champions Medication Safety with Call for Side Effect Reporting

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a pivotal call to action for citizens to actively participate in improving drug safety by reporting any side effects encountered from medications, vaccines, or medical devices. This appeal, situating SAHPRA at the vanguard of national pharmacovigilance, coincides with its engagement in the annual MedSafety Week from November 4th to 10th, 2024, a global initiative steered by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Under this year’s theme, SAHPRA underscores the imperative of using medicines correctly to forestall adverse effects while promptly reporting any that emerge. CEO Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela emphasized the need for patients to adhere strictly to healthcare practitioners’ directions when handling and consuming medications. This guidance is crucial since research indicates that about half of all medicinal side effects are preventable.

SAHPRA's call to action reinforces that patient safety remains its zenith priority. MedSafety Week serves as a strategic reminder for healthcare professionals to reassess therapeutic approaches and patient-specific health conditions before prescribing or dispensing medications. The hope is that through consumer and health worker education and alertness, the incidence of adverse drug reactions can be notably minimized.

The organization has furnished South Africans with user-friendly digital platforms—the MedSafety app and the eReporting portal—to facilitate the reporting process. These tools are accessible via SAHPRA's website and designed to include a range of health products, from traditional herbal remedies to modern biological medicines and vaccines.

Upon submission, every report is meticulously reviewed by SAHPRA to discern appropriate measures and policy adaptations to safeguard the public. The ongoing accumulation and analysis of this data not only fortify existing knowledge on known side effects but also pave the way for the discovery of previously unidentified ones. The potential ramifications could include the implementation of warnings and modifications to a medicine's recommended usage, marking a significant stride in patient safety and medication efficacy.

This campaign is a testament to SAHPRA's dedication to upholding the health and wellbeing of South Africans through rigorous medicine regulation and consumer empowerment. By encouraging proactive public involvement in drug safety monitoring, SAHPRA is setting a precedent for a health-conscious nation, establishing a dynamic partnership between the regulator, healthcare providers, and the populace at large.