Event Spotlight

Building a Culture of Safety Through Reporting

Every day, healthcare professionals make countless decisions about medicines. While most treatments improve health, some patients experience unexpected or harmful reactions that require careful attention. Identifying these reactions depends not only on clinical expertise but also on a culture in which reporting is recognised as an essential part of patient care.

Unfortunately, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remain significantly under-reported worldwide. Many healthcare professionals assume that a reaction is already known, are uncertain whether a medicine caused the event, or believe that only severe reactions should be reported. Time constraints, limited awareness of reporting systems, and fear of blame may also discourage reporting.

The consequences of underreporting extend beyond individual patients. When suspected ADRs are not documented, valuable safety information is lost. Patterns that could reveal previously unrecognised risks remain hidden, delaying regulatory action and preventing healthcare systems from learning from real-world experience.

Building a strong reporting culture means encouraging everyone to report suspected adverse reactions, even when certainty is lacking. Pharmacovigilance is based on suspicion, not proof. Each report contributes to a larger body of evidence that helps identify trends, improve prescribing practices, and protect future patients.

A culture of safety is one in which reporting is seen not as an extra task but as a collective responsibility and an opportunity to improve healthcare for everyone.