Minister Mbombo celebrates our unsung heroes at Medicines Information Centre

Yesterday, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, visited the Medicines Information Centre (MIC) at Groote Schuur Hospital to showcase the important work being done to ensure pharmacovigilance in the Western Cape.

Pharmacovigilance is a crucial component of the healthcare sector, as it ensures that medication that is dispensed is monitored for any possible adverse effects after it has been licensed for public use.

The MIC, which is situated in UCT’s Division of Clinical Pharmacology, is contracted by the department to perform assessments on all adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in our healthcare facilities. These reports are then sent to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) pharmacovigilance unit.

While this is standard practice across South Africa, the Western Cape is the only province thus far that sends feedback to healthcare professionals when the quarterly and annual reports are completed. This provides for greater co-learning opportunities and analysis.

In addition, the MIC has been providing free advisory services to all

Listen to the statement Minister Mbombo gave at the Medicines Information Centre.