FDA Urges Consumers to Report Drug and Medical Device Problems via New Mobile Application

Earlier this year, a group of private companies and institutions released a new mobile application in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiologic Health. It is called MedWatcher, and is a mobile app for use on tablets and smartphones to make reporting negative effects of drugs, medical devices, and vaccines faster and easier. This system is meant for use by voluntary reporters, including healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. Medical manufacturers and healthcare facilities are required to continue reporting adverse effects of drugs and other treatments through official government systems for reporting.

It is important that consumers report problems with medical devices or side effects that they believe were caused by a device or drug. The FDA states that voluntary reports are “one important way to help identify and better understand the risks associated with these products. Receiving higher quality reports more quickly helps the FDA identify and respond to safety signals and public health emergencies more efficiently and effectively.”
Consumers may also elect to receive information through the app, including FDA safety communications, recalls, and other messages relating to medical products which are of interest to the consumer.

For more information about the app, visit the MedWatcher website at: https://medwatcher.org/index.php

Related Reading:

• FDA Site
• FDA Blog
• MedWatcher Site