MANILA – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday said the country is joining over 130 partner organizations worldwide in the 10th anniversary of #MedSafetyWeek, an international campaign promoting the safe use of medicines through vigilant reporting of side effects.
Running from Nov. 3 to 9, this year’s campaign carries the theme “We Can All Help Make Medicines Safer,” highlighting the shared responsibility of patients, families, healthcare professionals and regulators in ensuring medicine safety.
“Every report counts. When you report suspected side effects, you are not just protecting yourself; you are helping protect others,” FDA spokesperson Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado said in a statement.
“Through #MedSafetyWeek, we encourage everyone to be more involved in ensuring that the medicines we take are both safe and effective,” she added.
The campaign aims to raise awareness on the importance of reporting suspected side effects to help the FDA’s Center for Drug Regulation and Research (CDRR) identify potential risks and take appropriate actions.
These reports play a vital role in promoting public health and improving medicine safety.
Since medicines, like all products, have risks, the FDA underscored that continuous vigilance helps ensure that medicines are safe for everyone.
It noted that only 5 to 10 percent of suspected side effects are reported globally. Common reasons for not reporting include lack of awareness, the belief that the side effect is minor, or simply forgetting to do so.
The #MedSafetyWeek campaign, founded in 2016, was launched to address this gap and strengthen global pharmacovigilance.
The 2025 anniversary edition is expected to be the largest to date, with 150 organizations across 77 countries sharing the #MedSafetyWeek message in more than 60 languages.
CDRR Product Research and Standards Development Division Chief Lanette Lee Querubin said the FDA continues to enhance pharmacovigilance in the country through improved reporting mechanisms, including the VigiMobile app and online submission via VigiFlow nationwide information drives, and partnerships with the Department of Health, Philippine Information Agency and the World Health Organization–Uppsala Monitoring Centre.
The FDA is also encouraging the public to join the conversation online by following and sharing #MedSafetyWeek posts on its official Facebook page and partner platforms.
“When we speak up, we save lives,” FDA Director General Paolo Teston said. “Our vision is a nation where every Filipino becomes a partner in medicine safety. (PNA)