PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry urges the public and healthcare personnel to remain alert for possible medicine side effects and report them when they occur to help monitor medication safety.
The call comes as the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) joins the global #MedSafetyWeek 2026 campaign from Nov 2 to 8, themed “Side effects – Don’t ignore them, report them”.
Malaysia is participating in the annual campaign for the sixth consecutive year.
The global initiative involves 130 countries and is led by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The campaign aims to raise awareness among healthcare personnel and the public about the importance of identifying and reporting adverse effects of medicines to the Health Ministry.
“While medicines played an important role in healthcare, their use could also cause side effects, which might occur immediately after taking them or only after prolonged use.
“Some reactions were easily identifiable, while others could only be detected through specific examinations or tests,” the ministry said in a statement on Saturday (Oct 31).
It added that every report received would contribute to a better understanding of medicine safety and help the NPRA take appropriate action to minimise the risks of side effects.
The public and healthcare personnel can find information on how to report side effects through the NPRA website at www.npra.gov.my or by contacting their nearest health facility.
Throughout the campaign, the public is also encouraged to share promotional materials posted on the social media platforms of the Pharmacy Services Programme and participating organisations using the hashtag #MedSafetyWeek to raise awareness of medication safety.
