MedSafetyWeek 2026: Global campaign urges reporting of drug side effects

MedSafetyWeek 2026 pharmacovigilance drug side effects Uppsala Monitoring Centre patient safety

The MedSafetyWeek 2026 global campaign is underway from November 2 to November 8, urging patients and healthcare professionals to report suspected adverse drug reactions. Coordinated by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), a collaborator of the World Health Organization (WHO), the initiative is supported by the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).

This year is described as the largest edition to date, involving over 130 organizations across more than 120 countries, with information distributed in over 60 languages. The campaign emphasizes that reporting suspected side effects is vital for monitoring drug safety and identifying potential risks, even if a direct causal link to a medication is not certain.

National regulatory bodies, including the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), the Bulgarian Executive Agency for Medicines (IAL), the National Organization for Medicines (EOF) in Greece, Infarmed in Portugal, and Pharmaceutical Services in Cyprus, are actively participating. Experts note that side effects can appear suddenly, develop gradually, or remain silent and only be detectable through medical examinations.

Entities

Cyprus · Executive Agency for Medicines · Greece · International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities · Italian Medicines Agency · MedSafetyWeek · Ministry of Health · National Organization for Medicines · National Organization of Medicines · Pharmaceutical Services of the Cyprus Ministry of Health · Spyros Sapounas · Uppsala Monitoring Centre

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] AIFA President Robert Nisticò stated that reports help monitor drug safety and protect the public. www.zerounotv.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Users do not need certainty of a causal link to report a suspected adverse effect. www.farmacista33.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2026 campaign involves over 130 organizations in more than 120 countries. www.farmacista33.it
[● 3 SOURCES] MedSafetyWeek 2026 runs from November 2 to November 8. www.farmacista33.it · www.zerounotv.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it
[● 3 SOURCES] The campaign is promoted by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC). www.farmacista33.it · www.zerounotv.it · www.quotidianodelsud.it