Abstract:
Pharmacovigilance (PV) is more important than ever, with
worldwide clinical trials taking place and several older
medicinal products being repurposed. The underreporting
of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) resulted in an underesti-
mation of their frequency and severity [1]. In light of this,
the Uppsala Monitoring Center (UMC), WHO Collaborat-
ing Center for International Drug Monitoring, coordinates
‘MedSafetyWeek’, an annual virtual campaign on social
media for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and public alike,
during which an animated series featuring humorous charac-
ters whose medicinal product misuse results in long-lasting
health consequences is displayed [2]. Raising the aware-
ness of PV and medication safety during MedSafetyWeek
is essential and will certainly help in improving the reporting
rates.