The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has urged patients and healthcare professionals to report suspected medicine side effects, in order to strengthen safety monitoring and protect public health.
The call comes as Zimbabwe joins the 2026 global #MedSafetyWeek campaign, running from 2 to 8 November, which seeks to strengthen medicine safety through increased reporting of adverse reactions.
MCAZ Director-General, Richard Rukwata, said reports from patients and healthcare professionals were essential in helping regulators identify potential medicine-related risks and protect others from harm.
“Every report adds to our understanding about patient safety and can help protect others from future harm,” he said.
The Authority said side effects could emerge suddenly, develop gradually or remain undetected until identified through medical tests, making vigilance and timely reporting critical.
Patients were particularly encouraged to watch for reactions when starting a new medicine, changing dosage or combining medication with other medicines, foods or herbal remedies.
MCAZ advised patients to read medicine information leaflets and consult healthcare professionals about possible side effects, urging them to report symptoms that are serious, interfere with daily activities or are not listed in the accompanying information.
The Authority stressed that patients did not need to be certain that a medicine had caused a particular symptom before reporting it.
“Reporting suspected side effects may seem like a small action, but it helps to make medicines safer for everyone. If you suspect a side effect, don’t ignore it — report it!” Rukwata said.
The campaign is expected to be the largest #MedSafetyWeek initiative to date, with 140 organisations from 130 countries sharing awareness messages in more than 60 languages.
MCAZ is encouraging the public and healthcare professionals to participate through awareness activities, online platforms and social media discussions using the hashtag #MedSafetyWeek.
