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Pharmacovigilance - drug safety

Medicines may affect the body in unintended, harmful ways. These effects, called side effects, adverse events or adverse reactions, represent risks of medicines.

It is important to identify, as quickly as possible, new risks or changes to the known risks associated with the use of medicines. Actions must be taken toÌýminimise the risks, maximise the benefits and promote safe and effective use of medicines by patients.

These activities are known as pharmacovigilance:

  • The science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other medicine-related problem.
  • An activity contributing to the protection of patients’ and public health.
Digital Activities 871X581

Guidance notes on the management of safety information and product complaints from digital activities

Digital activities are used by individuals and organisations as a component of overall communication with patients and customers to create or raise awareness about diseases and treatments.

Pharmaceutical companies also use digital activities for corporate awareness, clinical trial enrolment, additional risk minimisation activities, patient support programmes, and treatment and prevention of diseases.

Last modified: 22 November 2024

Last reviewed: 22 November 2024