MHRA launches social media campaign to promote Yellow Card reporting

A social media campaign to promote the reporting of suspected side effects from over-the-counter medicines was launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The campaign, which is part of an EU-wide awareness week, began on 20 November 2017.

At the centre of the campaign is an animation showing the story of a patient who has a suspected adverse reaction. It shows the medicine being taken, the suspected side effect, and how it should be reported to the medicines regulator.

“Our campaign will help the public, patients and healthcare professionals report potential side effects and have confidence that their reports are making a difference,” said Mick Foy, group manager for MHRA’s vigilance and risk management of medicines division.

“You can help make medicines safer by reporting any suspected side effects easily and quickly online through the Yellow Card Scheme,” he added.

The campaign is part of the Strengthening Collaboration for Operating Pharmacovigilance in Europe (SCOPE) Joint Action project, which mainly aims to raise awareness of national reporting systems for suspected side effects in medicines.