Quality and Safety of Medicines*
* The term "medicines" refers to both medicines and vaccines
All medicines carry risks along with the potential benefits of using them. When a medicine is approved for use from clinical studies many of these risks are known; however as the use of the medicine increases more information on its safety profile becomes available. Medsafe monitors this information to ensure that the medicine remains acceptably safe for use in New Zealand.
This section of the website provides information for consumers on how medicines are approved in New Zealand and how Medsafe monitors safety. Follow the links to find out more:
- Medsafe's evaluation and approval process for medicines
- How Medsafe monitors the safety of medicines in New Zealand (Pharmacovigilance)
The following links provide additional information:
- Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) Search Page
- Medicine Datasheet Search Page (written for healthcare professionals)
- Reporting a faulty (defective) medicine