FDA launches mobile app for reporting medication side effects

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in its efforts to improve health safety has launched a mobile application dubbed "Med Safety" to enable both healthcare professionals and the public report side effects of medicines to the Authority.

The reports received through the mobile app will be compared to reports received via established routes for completeness, quality and ability to detect new safety issues.

The Med Safety mobile app will also help the FDA to identify medicine safety issues faster and make it easier for healthcare professionals and the public to report problems with their medicines to the Authority at no cost once the app is downloaded from google play store.

The app was developed through the collaboration between the government of Japan, the World Health Organisation and other partners.

Mr Kweku Agyeman Manu, Minister of Health, in a speech read on his behalf, said the launch of the app further promoted FDA's mandate of ensuring the safe use of medicines.

He said the side effects complaint would be received immediately so that the FDA could work promptly on the issues in case there are issues that need to be addressed on any particular medicine to prevent other people from suffering from that same side effects.

He, therefore, encouraged those who own smartphones to download the app to access the power it gives them to ensure that only safe medicines are available on the Ghanaian market.

Mr Manu also pledged the Ministry's support for FDA in delivering on its mandates and introduction of innovative technologies to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the public.

He said the Ministry has embraced the use of technology to improve the health and wellbeing of Ghanaians, adding the newly launched drone services to deliver urgently needed medical products attest to the fact.

He announced the drone intervention was working well and lives are being saved daily, including deliveries of blood and blood products for transfusion, vaccines and anti-snake venom in emergency cases of snake bites and lately medicine for sickle cell patients.

Mrs Delese A.A. Darko, Chief Executive Officer, FDA said the app will also help users to receive up-to-date safety information from the Authority on all issues.

She said the Authority has come out with series of initiatives to improve healthcare and patients safety in the country.

She said Med Safety, aside being the easiest way to report safety complaints countrywide, will also promote two-way communication between patients and healthcare delivery.

Mrs Darko expressed her gratitude to all partners who assisted in diverse ways to make the development of the app a reality.

There were solidarity messages from partners including Consumers' Association of Ghana, Society of Pharmacovigilance, Ghana, Access and Delivery Partners and United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.