New Campaign for Yellow Card Scheme

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have launched a new, targeted campaign to increase public awareness of the Yellow Card Scheme.

The Yellow Card Scheme is the UK scheme for the reporting of side effects of medicines. Further information on the Yellow Card Scheme is available on the MHRA website here.

Patient reporting of side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme was officially launched in 2008 and patients have been shown to make a valuable contribution. We are keen to further encourage patients, parents and carers to report side effects using the scheme. All reports are monitored for potential safety issues, so increased reporting to the scheme helps the MHRA protect public health.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe.

Yellow Card leaflets have been distributed to GP surgeries and pharmacies across the UK. This is supported by poster displays and the information video below, which is encouraging reporting to the scheme abd is being shown in a number of GP surgery waiting rooms.

June Raine, Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines said:

“It is vitally important that we continue to raise awareness of the Yellow Card Scheme amongst the public and encourage reporting of side effects. We hope this new, targeted campaign will increase patient and public engagement, and we look forward to seeing the results translated into more effective medicines safety systems.”

Patient, parents and carers are all encouraged to report adverse drug reactions using the Yellow Card Scheme website www.yellowcard.gov.uk, by completing a Yellow Card leaflet, or telephoning freephone 0808 100 3352.