A Multidisciplinary Approach in Pharmacovigilance Awareness: ISoP Egypt Chapter’s MedSafetyWeek Experience

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 underestimation of their frequency and severity [1]. In light of this, the Uppsala Monitoring Center (UMC), WHO Collaborating 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 characters whose medicinal product misuse results in long-lasting health consequences is displayed [2]. Raising the awareness of PV and medication safety during MedSafetyWeek is essential and will certainly help in improving the reporting rates.

PV and ADR reporting practices are relatively new for Egypt. Addressing medication safety challenges demands multidisciplinary collaborations that bring together the tools, efforts and resources of different professionals to assess and manage ADRs jointly. Safety monitoring of medicinal products in all its aspects is a challenge increasingly taken up by multilateral organizations and institutions, including hospitals, academia, student organizations, community pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, medicine regulatory authorities and other independent institutions.