First Pharmacovigilance Unit in the Azores created in partnership with Infarmed to monitor drug safety
The Regional Secretary for Health announced in Ponta Delgada the creation of the first Pharmacovigilance Unit in the Azores to ensure the effective monitoring of drug safety.
"Our commitment to Infarmed was to provide a team in charge of carrying out this project, which is already fulfilled with a two-day training. This marks the entry into operation of this Unit," said Rui Luís, who spoke at the opening of the information session on "Pharmacovigilance - The Importance of Notifying Adverse Drug Reactions."
Rui Luís also revealed that the Pharmacovigilance Unit, operated by our professionals, will be located at the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada, covering the entire population of the Azores.
The Secretary for Health added that the second phase will include the creation of a network of delegates on all islands of the Azores, including health centres and hospitals.
With this Pharmacovigilance Unit in the Azores, the National Pharmacovigilance System now comprises eight units located in Guimarães, Oporto, Coimbra, Covilhã, Lisbon (2) and Faro.
The National Pharmacovigilance System annually receives about 6,000 reports of adverse drug reactions, including information on the safety of drugs used during pregnancy and lactation.
"Medications are safe when they enter the market, but, sometimes, there are adverse situations and this is what we are talking about: the possibility of allowing patients or health professionals to notify an adverse reaction," stressed Rui Luís.
The reports may be registered by patients and health professionals on the Infarmed portal at the address http://www.infarmed.pt/web/infarmed/submissaoram.
Speaking on the sidelines of this information session, the Regional Secretary stated that a team will be available 24 hours a day, in person and by telephone, to assist in the registration of reports and provide first aid if the adverse reaction is serious.
"From now on, this Unit will be able to analyse the reports registered on all islands of the Azores and insert them in the European database, thus contributing to the effectiveness of drug safety throughout Europe," stressed Rui Luis.