In March the Government of Canada launched a campaign encouraging Canadians to use MedEffect Canada to report suspected side effects from health products. MedEffect Canada allows physicians and patients to file reports on adverse reactions via web, phone, fax, or mail. The web site also provides the most recent and reliable health product safety information. Increased reporting of side effects contributes significantly to the safe use of health products. It’s estimated that less than 10% of suspected side effects are reported.
Health Canada is distributing a brochure, entitled A Patient Guide for Reporting Side Effects from Health Products (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/pubs/medeff/_fs-if/2009-ar-ei-guide-patient/inde... [8]), which will be displayed at pharmacies across the country. A health professional guide to reporting side effects is available at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/pubs/medeff/_fs-if/2009-ar-ei-guide-prof/index-e... [9]. Physicians and patients can report adverse reactions to the Canada Vigilance Program the following three ways:
• Online at the MedEffect Canada web site (www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect [10]).
• By completing the Canada Vigilance Reporting Form available on the web site (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/ar-ei_form-eng.php [11]) and mailing it postage paid (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/post_paid-affranchi-en... [12]) or faxing it toll free to 1 866 678-6789.
• By calling toll free to 1 866 234-2345.
Links
[1] https://bcmj.org/cover/may-2009
[2] https://bcmj.org/node/3304
[3] https://bcmj.org/print/news/reporting-side-effects
[4] https://bcmj.org/printmail/news/reporting-side-effects
[5] http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://bcmj.org/print/news/reporting-side-effects&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton
[6] https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Reporting side effects&url=https://bcmj.org/print/news/reporting-side-effects&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton&via=BCMedicalJrnl&tw_p=tweetbutton
[7] https://bcmj.org/javascript%3A%3B
[8] http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/pubs/medeff/_fs-if/2009-ar-ei-guide-patient/index-eng.php
[9] http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/pubs/medeff/_fs-if/2009-ar-ei-guide-prof/index-eng.php
[10] http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
[11] http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/ar-ei_form-eng.php
[12] http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/post_paid-affranchi-eng.php
[13] https://bcmj.org/modal_forms/nojs/webform/176
[14] https://bcmj.org/%3Finline%3Dtrue%23citationpop