PMDA Reports Increased Inquiries On Adverse Effects Patient Relief System
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency reported it received 17,296 inquiries related to drug adverse effects in 2008, which is 10,000 more compared to last year. PMDA attributed the increase to raised public awareness since October 2008 when over-the-counter drug makers started printing relief contact information on product packages. Since then monthly inquiries have jumped from 500-600 cases to 4,000 cases. Among the 962 cases seeking relief, the agency decided on 919 cases. It approved 784 cases and denied the rest. In 2009, the agency plans to carry out a survey targeting 3,300 physicians, dentists and nurses, and 3,000 citizens to further raise public awareness of the drug adverse effect relief system. (Click here for more - Japanese Language