Digital evolution for medicine safety scheme
A smartphone app has been launched in the UK allowing people to report problems with medicines.
The Yellow Card smartphone app has been created in collaboration with the Innovative Medicines Initiative as part of the ‘Recognising Adverse Drug Reactions’ (WEB-RADR) project. The app supplements an existing one-stop website and users can select specific medicines or vaccines to track and receive news and alerts about them.
It is the only app that allows users to report medicines’ side effects directly to the Yellow Card Scheme in order to assist the national Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) ensure they are suitably safe for patients. Yellow Cards are used alongside other scientific safety information to help the MHRA make changes to the warnings given to people taking a medicine or vaccine, or to the way they are used, to minimise potential risks.
Mick Foy, group manager for MHRA’s vigilance and risk management of medicines division, said: “The contribution of patients, careers and healthcare professionals alike in reporting suspected side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme is vital. The evidence helps MHRA detect safety issues and take the necessary action to keep the public safe.
“Moving Yellow Card onto a mobile app is a logical progression in this digital age, allowing us to build on the existing website to improve user engagement. It offers some good functionality to access further safety information, and it will continue to evolve over the course of the WEB-RADR project based on user feedback.”
Adding his thoughts, UK Life Sciences Minister George Freeman said: “By making the scheme accessible to researchers, healthcare professionals and millions of patients, it will not only improve the safety of reporting but ultimately better protect people’s health and support research in the NHS.”
The Yellow Card Scheme was introduced after the use of thalidomide as an anti-morning sickness drug. The aim of the scheme is to monitor the safety of UK medicines and act as an early warning system to identify potential side-effects and adverse reactions.
