 |
answer text |
<p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has a strategy to
improve engagement with the Yellow Card Scheme as well as to increase access through
a wide variety or reporting mechanisms, for both healthcare professionals as well
as for patients.</p><p>The MHRA has expanded the mechanisms through which reports
of side effects can be made. Most recently a new mobile reporting application was
delivered, which also includes helpful information about medicines. The MHRA is also
continuing to integrate with clinical systems within primary and secondary care to
make reporting faster and more accessible to healthcare professionals which has already
driven reporting rates up and will continue to do so with the inclusion of more clinical
systems.</p><p>The MHRA actively promote the Scheme through regular awareness campaigns
(both locally and internationally), attendance at conferences and patient groups,
satellite Yellow Card centres that promote locally and the MHRA also provides a range
of educational materials to support understanding of the Scheme and the work that
the MHRA does.</p><p>An important mechanism to maximise use of the Scheme by healthcare
professionals and increase its impact is the National Medication Safety Network, which
consists of approximately 450 Medication Safety Officers (MSOs), who raise awareness
for reporting of side effects due to medication errors. MSOs are mostly pharmacists
based within hospital trusts who encourage local and national learning as well as
improve reporting.</p><p>The MHRA regularly communicates safety information through
a monthly electronic newsletter called Drug Safety Update which informs healthcare
professionals about the latest medicines safety issues and is always coupled with
messages to report suspected adverse drug reactions to the Yellow Card Scheme.</p><p>To
improve accessibility and transparency, the MHRA has publicly available online interactive
Drug Analysis Profiles (iDAPs). The iDAPs are provided for all licensed drugs for
which the MHRA have received reports of suspected adverse reactions through the Yellow
Card Scheme.</p><p>The MHRA encourages online feedback from both healthcare professionals
and patients and proactively engages with patients on a regular basis. Feedback from
patients is used to make improvements to the Scheme and to the ways in which patients
can report suspected side effects.</p>
|
|
