Scots urged to show the Yellow Card to side effects from medication
A new report from Healthcare Improvement Scotland has found just 10% of Scots who suffered side effects from taking medication reported them to the Yellow Card Scheme.
The statistic was revealed in Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s latest Citizen’s Panel report. The report gathered views from more than 560 people across Scotland on medicine safety, long-term conditions, and preconception health and care.
The report recommends raising awareness of the Yellow Card scheme to help keep everyone safe. The scheme is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), to improve under-reporting of medicines’ side effects. It helps the MHRA identify new safety issues as early as possible.
Panel members were asked whether they had experienced a side effect or unintended effect from a medicine. 57% per cent said they had, but just 10% reported it through the Yellow Card scheme.
Laura Fulton, Chief Pharmacist with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said:
“The Yellow Card Scheme collects and monitors information on suspected safety concerns involving healthcare products, of which medicines are a significant contributor.
“This is extremely important as it flags side effects that previously have not been reported, for example. It is vital to improve our understanding of medicines and safeguard patients. I would encourage patients, members of the public and healthcare professionals to proactively utilise the Yellow Card Scheme and report any concern as soon as they can. This will undoubtedly help others both now and in the future.”
“I am pleased that Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s report recognised the important role that the Yellow Card Scheme has played, and will continue to play, in safeguarding public health in Scotland.”
Medical Director, Yellow Card Scheme Scotland
Professor Simon Maxwell, Medical Director, Yellow Card Centre Scotland, said:
“I am pleased that Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s report recognised the important role that the Yellow Card Scheme has played, and will continue to play, in safeguarding public health in Scotland.
“Any member of the public can now report, and those reports are making a growing contribution to the Scheme. I welcome the report’s focus on increasing public awareness of the Scheme as a mechanism whereby all citizens can all make a contribution to medicines safety.”
The report recommends the Scottish Government promotes and supports public awareness of the Yellow Card Scheme, to improve under-reporting.
Clare Morrison, Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Director of Engagement and Change, said:
“The Yellow Card Scheme plays an important part in public safety, and Citizen’s Panel 15 has highlighted the need for more people to learn about the scheme and what it does.
“We hope that our highlighting this through Citizen’s Panel 15 will help keep everyone safe when taking medication.”
The full report is now available to read online.
Find out more about the Yellow Card Scheme.