BVI Joins 10th Annual MedSafetyWeek to Urge
The British Virgin Islands has joined over 130 countries in observing the 10th annual #MedSafetyWeek from 3 to 9 November, urging residents to report suspected side effects from medicines and medical devices. Health officials, led by Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services Gracia Wheatley-Smith, say increased reporting can help protect lives and prompt timely regulatory action. The campaign is coordinated by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre in partnership with international regulators and supported by the World Health Organization and other partners; local contacts and reporting channels are provided for residents.
The British Virgin Islands has joined more than 130 countries to observe the 10th annual #MedSafetyWeek, an international campaign focused on encouraging the reporting of suspected adverse reactions to medicines and medical devices. This year’s programme runs from 3 to 9 November under the theme “You and I can help make medicines safer for everyone,” inviting patients, families, caregivers and health professionals to act as partners in medicine safety (BVI Government).
Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services Gracia Wheatley-Smith stressed the importance of community participation. “Medicines save lives every day, but sometimes they can cause unintended effects,” she said. “By reporting these side effects, you help regulators take timely action to make medicines safer for everyone.
Each report matters, because each report represents a life protected” (BVI Government). Health authorities note that globally only five to ten percent of suspected side effects are reported, meaning many safety concerns go undetected. Local officials explain that underreporting often happens because people don’t know reporting is possible, they assume their experience isn’t important, or they simply forget.
The #MedSafetyWeek campaign aims to change this by educating communities about how and where to report suspected reactions (BVI Government). For the BVI, reporting is especially important because of the Territory’s small population and heavy reliance on imported medicines and devices.
A single report from a patient or healthcare worker can help regulators detect patterns faster and trigger safety reviews or changes in guidance. Authorities emphasise that medicine safety is a shared responsibility — not only the role of doctors, pharmacists or regulators, but also of patients, caregivers and family members (BVI Government).
The international campaign is coordinated by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, and runs in partnership with national authorities and members of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA).
The campaign is supported by WHO and other international partners and reaches countries in many languages, reflecting a global effort to listen, report and care (BVI Government). Residents who experience or observe a suspected adverse reaction are encouraged to tell their doctor or pharmacist and to report the event to the Ministry of Health and Social Development’s Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services.
For local information and media enquiries contact Public Health Communications Specialist Natasha Lettsome-Humphrey at 468-2286 or nlettsome@gov.vg. For broader government services and enquiries, call 1 (284) 468-3701 or WhatsApp 1 (284) 468-9760; international media may contact BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com (BVI Government).
By taking part in #MedSafetyWeek, the BVI is joining a global call to action: to listen, to report, and to care — practical steps residents can take to help make medicines safer for everyone.
Primary source: BVI Government