MCAZ Director General, Richard Rukwata
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has called on members of the public and healthcare professionals to remain alert to possible side effects of medicines and promptly report them to help improve patient safety.
The Authority said while medicines play a critical role in saving lives and improving health, they can also cause unintended side effects which may develop suddenly or gradually, including after prolonged use.
MCAZ Director-General Richard Rukwata said reports from patients and healthcare professionals were essential in monitoring the safety of medicines and identifying potential risks.
“Reports from the public and healthcare professionals have a vital role in helping us monitor the safety of medicines. Every report adds to our understanding about patient safety and can help protect others from future harm,” said Rukwata.
The call comes as MCAZ joins the 2026 Global #MedSafetyWeek Campaign, running from November 2 to 8, under the theme: “Don’t ignore suspected side effects, report them”.
Rukwata said people should not ignore symptoms they suspect could be linked to medicines, even when they are uncertain whether the medicine is responsible.
“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!” he said.
The Authority added that side effects could be more likely when patients start taking a new medicine, change their dosage or combine medicines with certain foods and herbal remedies.
Patients are therefore encouraged to read the information leaflets accompanying their medicines and discuss possible side effects with healthcare professionals.
MCAZ said suspected side effects should be reported, particularly when they are serious, affect a person’s day-to-day activities or are not listed in the patient information leaflet.
It also emphasised that people do not need to be certain that a medicine caused a particular symptom before reporting it.
Some side effects may be easily noticeable, while others may be silent and only detected through medical tests, making continued vigilance important among both patients and healthcare providers.
The 2026 #MedSafetyWeek campaign is expected to be the largest since its inception, with 140 organisations from 130 countries participating and sharing safety messages in more than 60 languages.
MCAZ is encouraging the public and stakeholders to support the campaign through awareness activities, websites, newsletters and social media platforms using the hashtag #MedSafetyWeek.
The initiative seeks to strengthen awareness of medicine safety and encourage the reporting of suspected adverse reactions to help regulators gather information, identify potential risks and take appropriate action to protect patients.
Don’t ignore suspected side effects. Report them.
