By Wendy Mkandawire
The pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority PMRA has urged patients and health workers to remain vigilant and to report any problem experienced as a result of taking medicines saying such reports help authority to determine whether medicines are protected
PMRA is among the 140 organizations from 130 countries across the world that are participating in this year’s global campaign week aimed at raising awareness on the importance of reporting side effects medicine
In a statement, PMRA said that while medicines save lives and improve health, they can, in some circumstances, cause unexpected and unwanted side effects.
According to the Authority, adverse drug reactions commonly occur when patients start new medications, change dosages, or concurrently take other medicines, foods, or herbal remedies.
PMRA stated that timely reporting enables the Authority to monitor medicine safety and take regulatory action to protect the public.
Commenting on the matter, health rights activist George Jobe welcomed the campaign, describing it as crucial for public health.
Jobe noted that some patients experience itching or unusual body reactions after taking medicines, and reporting such cases will help PMRA assess the safety and quality of medicines circulating in Malawi.
PMRA has urged the public to report all suspected adverse reactions through health facilities and its reporting platforms.
This year’s campaign is being held under the theme Don’t ignore suspected side effects report them to help protect others from harm and will run from 2 to 8 November, 2026.
