MHRA launches public health campaign to urge reporting of side-effects through the Yellow Card Scheme

MHRA launches public health campaign to urge reporting of side-effects through the Yellow Card Scheme: Source: MHRA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a campaign to highlight the need for the public to report any suspected side effects from medicines through the Yellow Card Scheme. Figures show that reports from members of the public have declined from a high of 3,584 in 2006 to 1,789 in 2012, and that GP reporting has fallen steadily over a nine-year period - from 5,578 in 2003 to 3,511 in 2012.
 
The aims of the campaign are to ensure health professionals recognise the importance of reporting adverse reactions via the Yellow card Scheme and to increase public awareness of the scheme.  Yellow Cards are being distributed to pharmacies and materials to raise awareness among health professionals are being rolled out throughout February. A promotional video to encourage the public to report adverse drug reactions to the MHRA is also being shown in 339 Rowlands pharmacies across the UK..