MOH urges public to report medicine side effects ahead of MedSafetyWeek, 2 to 8 November

1 November 2026 · News · Hospitals & specialist centres

The Health Ministry on 31 October asked patients, caregivers and health staff to report suspected side effects of medicines to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), as Malaysia joins the global #MedSafetyWeek campaign from 2 to 8 November. Reports can be made through the NPRA website or at the nearest health facility, and apply to medicines bought at private clinics and pharmacies as well as government ones.

What the ministry said

In a statement reported by The Star on 31 October 2026, MOH said side effects can appear soon after taking a medicine or only after long-term use, and some can only be picked up through tests. Every report helps the NPRA understand a medicine's safety and act to reduce risk.

This year's campaign theme is 'Side effects: don't ignore them, report them'. It is coordinated internationally with the World Health Organization, involves about 130 countries, and Malaysia is taking part for the sixth year in a row.

How to report

MOH points the public to the NPRA website, npra.gov.my, or to the nearest health facility. NPRA's campaign pages say both health professionals and consumers can report, and ask consumers to speak to their doctor or pharmacist about the problem as well.

Note the medicine's name, strength and batch number from the pack.
Write down when you started it, when the problem began and what happened.
Keep the pack or a photo of it, and the receipt from the clinic or pharmacy.
Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own; talk to the prescriber.

Why it matters for private patients

Many families get medicines from private GPs, specialist clinics and retail pharmacies rather than government facilities. Side-effect reporting works the same way regardless of where a medicine was dispensed, and the system relies on patients as well as doctors.

When you are prescribed something new at a private clinic, it is reasonable to ask what side effects to watch for and who to call if they happen. This site does not give medical advice; any concern about a reaction should go to a doctor or pharmacist first.

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Sources

Do not ignore medicine side effects, report it, Health Ministry urges public, healthcare personnel — The Star
Monitoring the safety of medicines doesn't stop once they hit the pharmacy shelves — NPRA (Ministry of Health)

Editorial summary written by Best Malaysia Healthcare. Not medical, legal or financial advice; check the original sources.