Patients can now report side effects

Since September 1 in Belgium, any patient taking a prescription drug who experiences a side effect not listed in the leaflet is encouraged to report the side effect directly to the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP). The FAMHP website has now opened up its reporting system to include patients, whereas it was previously only accessible to physicians, pharmacists and dentists. The change comes from a new European regulation which provides that patients should also be able to share any adverse effects of drugs or medication, as it is possible that additional side effects appear after a drug is used by thousands of people over a long period of time.