Cyprus recorded 585 reports of suspected side effects from medicines in 2025 and the first months of 2026, about 10 per cent of them from patients, carers and members of the public, Pharmaceutical Services director Elena Panayiotopoulou told Phileleftheros.
There were 310 reports in 2025 and another 275 between 1 January 2026 and early November. Most concerned reactions that were not serious, Panayiotopoulou said, though that did not mean they should go unreported.
Side effects that can occur when taking medicines include gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea and nausea, as well as some nervous system symptoms. A report does not automatically mean a medicine has been confirmed as the cause. Reports are of suspected side effects, which are then assessed as part of the monitoring of medicine safety.
Panayiotopoulou described the greater involvement of patients as “one of the most encouraging developments of recent years”. Reports no longer came only from doctors, she said, and the authorities wanted the public to be aware and to report possible side effects.
The reporting system, known as the ‘Yellow Card’, became better known to the public during the pandemic, when people were told they could report possible side effects, including allergic reactions. Participation has continued to rise steadily over the past three years, though not by a large amount, she said, and part of the population now knows about the system and uses it.
European monitoring
Every report submitted to the Pharmaceutical Services is passed to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as happens in all member states, so that there is a full record at European level, Panayiotopoulou said.
Pooling data from across the EU makes it possible to spot risks that may not have been identified in clinical trials. Before approval, medicines are studied in specific populations under controlled conditions. Once on the market, they are used by far more patients of different ages and with different health problems, often for longer, which is why safety monitoring continues for as long as a medicine is on sale.
The EMA often revises indications or guidance on possible side effects, keeping doctors and patients informed when treatment is decided, Panayiotopoulou said. The information gathered can lead to new warnings, changes to patient leaflets, additional monitoring or other measures to make a medicine safer to use.
How to report
The Yellow Card is the official system through which the public and health professionals can tell the Pharmaceutical Services about possible side effects. A report can be made by a patient, a relative or a carer who notices a symptom or reaction they suspect is linked to a medicine, whether it is a new medicine or one taken for a long time.
Serious or unusual reactions, possible side effects of new medicines, and reactions that may be linked to vaccines or to treatment during pregnancy are of particular importance.
Reports are made online through the Pharmaceutical Services platform. Useful information includes the name of the medicine, the dose, how long it was taken, the date symptoms appeared and any other medicines the patient is taking.
There is no need to prove a link between the medicine and the reaction. A single report does not show that a medicine is dangerous, but many similar reports can produce a safety signal that needs further scientific investigation.
The Pharmaceutical Services stressed that reporting does not replace medical advice. Anyone experiencing a possible side effect should contact their doctor and should not stop or change their treatment on their own.
The electronic Yellow Card is available on the Pharmaceutical Services website.
