Montenegro is once again taking part in the global #MedSafetyWeek campaign, which will run from 2 to 8 November 2026. Working alongside 140 organisations from 130 countries worldwide, the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices (CInMED) continues to raise awareness of the importance of the appropriate and safe use of medicines. This year’s campaign is being held under the slogan “Don’t ignore a suspected adverse reaction – report it!”, with the aim of reminding healthcare professionals and patients of the importance of recognising and reporting all suspected adverse reactions to medicines.
Medicines save lives and treat millions of people around the world. However, every medicine can cause adverse reactions, which do not occur in all patients. Some adverse reactions occur unexpectedly, while others develop gradually, even after prolonged use of a medicine. Some are easily recognisable, whereas others can only be detected through laboratory tests or other medical examinations. Recognising and documenting such events enables early detection of potential problems associated with the use of a particular medicine and the implementation of appropriate measures to address them. However, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of adverse reactions to medicines are reported, making it more difficult to identify potential risks in a timely manner and take appropriate measures to prevent them.
For this reason, every year in early November, the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) in Sweden, in cooperation with numerous international organisations, runs a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of monitoring the safety of medicines. Every report of a suspected adverse reaction can play an important role in the future use of a medicine. Reports submitted by healthcare professionals and patients are a valuable source of information for the continuous monitoring of medicine safety, enabling timely identification of potential risks and the implementation of appropriate measures. Many potential adverse reactions can be prevented by using medicines appropriately, in accordance with the recommendations of healthcare professionals and the information provided in the package leaflet. Raising awareness and educating healthcare professionals and patients are therefore essential to achieving better treatment outcomes. All healthcare professionals and patients can report suspected adverse reactions to the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices (CInMED). By doing so, they contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the safety profiles of medicines on the market, helping to make their future use safer for themselves and others. Further information on how to report a suspected adverse reaction is available here.
We invite you to take part in the #MedSafetyWeek campaign and explore the range of educational materials that will be shared on CInMED’s social media channels throughout the week.
Don’t ignore a suspected adverse reaction – report it! Together, we can make the use of medicines safer.
