Lääketurvaan

Lääketurvaan, a Finnish term, translates to "drug safety" or "medicines safety" in English. It refers to the continuous monitoring, assessment, and prevention of adverse effects or other problems related to the use of medicines. The overarching goal of lääketurvaan is to ensure that the benefits of using a medicine outweigh its risks for individual patients and the population as a whole.

This concept encompasses various activities. Pharmacovigilance, a key component, involves collecting and analyzing reports of suspected adverse drug reactions from healthcare professionals, patients, and pharmaceutical companies. This data helps identify new safety signals and trends. Regulatory authorities, such as Fimea in Finland, play a crucial role in overseeing drug safety by evaluating the efficacy and safety of medicines before they are approved for marketing and by continuously monitoring their use in the population.

Lääketurvaan also includes the proactive assessment of risks associated with medicines throughout their lifecycle, from clinical trials to post-marketing surveillance. This involves understanding potential side effects, drug interactions, and the suitability of medicines for different patient groups. Education and information dissemination are also vital aspects, ensuring that healthcare professionals and patients are well-informed about the safe and effective use of medicines, including potential risks and precautions. Ultimately, effective lääketurvaan contributes to optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing harm associated with medication use.