The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has made its smart EDE DAWA tool available to residents, allowing them to officially report suspected adverse reactions to medicines and medical products.

The tool was introduced alongside the nationwide “Speak Up…Stay Safe” pharmacovigilance campaign, which encourages the public to report potential adverse reactions to medicines and medical products.

Users can access EDE DAWA by scanning the QR code provided as part of the campaign. Reports can also be submitted through the Emirates Drug Establishment’s official website, with separate channels available for individuals and patients, as well as healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical establishments.

The tool was developed and validated through EDE’s collaboration with the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC). It is designed to simplify data entry and route reports to specialists for review and assessment in accordance with established procedures.

The Uppsala Monitoring Centre is an independent, non-profit foundation based in Sweden and a World Health Organisation collaborating centre for international drug safety monitoring.

How to report adverse reactions

The Emirates Drug Establishment has urged patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical establishments to report suspected adverse reactions through official channels.

Individuals and patients can use the dedicated “Report Adverse Reactions to Medicines and Medical Products for Individuals” section on the EDE portal.

Healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical establishments also have a dedicated channel for submitting reports.

Submitting a report does not prove that a medicine caused the reaction. Reports are assessed alongside other scientific evidence to identify and further investigate potential safety signals.

Nationwide campaign to improve medicine safety

The “Speak Up…Stay Safe” campaign is being conducted in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, Emirates Health Services, Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Health Authority.

The initiative is part of the UAE’s participation in MedSafetyWeek 2026, which will run from November 2 to 8.

The campaign aims to increase reporting of suspected adverse reactions and establish a coordinated approach among health authorities to protect patients and improve the safety of medical products.

This year marks the 11th edition of the MedSafetyWeek campaign, under the slogan “Do not ignore adverse reactions; report them.”

The campaign highlights the importance of patients’ experiences and the information provided by individuals and healthcare professionals about potential adverse reactions while using medicines.

Workshops and educational programmes

As part of the campaign, online workshops will be held for healthcare professionals on pharmacovigilance and the management of suspected adverse reactions.

Awareness programmes at the University of Sharjah will also include sessions on pharmacovigilance, the importance of reporting adverse reactions and how to use official reporting channels.

An online seminar will also be held for companies and pharmaceutical establishments to explain their responsibilities and the requirements related to pharmacovigilance.

Medicine safety monitoring continues after authorisation

Dr Ruqayya Aqeel Al Bastaki, Acting Executive Director of the Medical Products Regulation Sector at the Emirates Drug Establishment, said the campaign aims to establish an approach that links public awareness with scientific monitoring and regulatory action.

She stressed that the responsibilities of authorities involved in medicine safety do not end when a product is authorised and enters the market, and that monitoring continues throughout the product’s lifecycle.

According to Al Bastaki, reports of suspected adverse reactions are one source of information assessed alongside other scientific evidence and can help identify potential safety signals requiring further investigation.

She added that an effective pharmacovigilance system requires cooperation among regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals, the pharmaceutical industry, patients and caregivers.

New national pharmacovigilance guidelines

The campaign follows the Emirates Drug Establishment’s approval in July 2026 of the “Guidelines on Regulations, Requirements and Good Pharmacovigilance Practices for Medicinal Products.”

The guidelines were developed under Decision No. 27 of 2026 issued by the Chair of EDE’s Board of Directors. They provide a national framework defining the responsibilities of relevant entities, the monitoring and assessment of safety information, and the management of risks associated with medicinal products after marketing authorisation.

The Emirates Drug Establishment stressed that reporting suspected adverse reactions can help protect public health and promote the safer use of medicines and medical products.