Infectious Diseases Institute has been commended for its passion, unconditional commitment and dedicated service towards pharmacovigilance. Pharmacovigilance is the monitoring of the effects of medical drugs after they have been licensed for use, especially in order to identify and evaluate previously unreported adverse reactions. This award was handed over at the launch of the MedSafety App at the 3rd Annual Pharmacovigilance Stakeholders Round-table Meeting held at Golf Course Hotel on 26th February 2020.

In addition to the institutional award, top-performing individuals within IDI were also awarded as follows:

1. Dr Arnold Arinaitwe (Accumulated the highest number of reports at a facility)
2. Swalha Namanda (the most cases of drug reactions reported)
3. Dr Edna Auma (Constantly supports HIV vigilance, Kawaala Health Centre 4)
4. Dr Bridget Ainembabazi (Recognized for the contribution towards monitoring & reporting of adverse drug reactions)
5. Shamim Nakadde (Recognized for the contribution towards monitoring & reporting of adverse drug reactions)

IDI Mulago was identified among the top 10 facilities with outstanding drug reporting in Uganda and all facilities that IDI works with were selected as best in their categories (Kiswa and Kitebi).

The Med Safety App was created to ensure that only safe drugs are maintained in circulation to the Ugandan population. The app provides an easy and convenient way for people to submit reports on the adverse reactions to drugs used, verify acknowledgement of reports and create a watch list of medication in order to receive personalised news and alerts. The reports provided are used to identify previously unknown issues with the specified medications.

Several implementing partners attended this launch and these are; Infectious Diseases Institute, Mild May Uganda, Medicines Transparency Alliance, Health System Advocacy Partnership, Baylor Uganda, National Medical Stores, The AIDS Support Organization, Uganda Association of Pharmacy Owners and Lung Institute. The main funders were CDC and USAID.

MED SAFETY APP is meant to improve the quality and quantity of adverse drug reporting in countries in real-time, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, the WHO Country Director.

Dr. Grace Nambatya Kyeyune, the Director of Research NDA also stated that the Med Safety App will help doctors to do timely reporting and avoid inadequacies.

By Rebecca Nakitandwe, Communications Office, IDI