Jakarta, 17 September 2020 – People are encouraged to actively participate in reporting Adverse Event (AE) and/or Side Effect of medicine consumed, be it the effect that occurred to her/himself, her/his family, friends or colleagues. This report is crucial for patient’s safety and security, for the present and future times. 

Through Patient Safety Day 2020 that is commemorated in the world today, Bayer and YKI support and push effort to improve the awareness and knowledge of the public regarding the importance of drugs’ side effects.

Angel Michael Evangelista, President Director of Bayer Indonesia said, “Bayer and YKI are supportive and aiming to ensure patient’s safety and security. For Bayer, patient’s safety is the utmost obligation and our core business. Bayer is committed to produce high quality and safe prescribed drugs and non-prescribed drugs.”

“We are committed to improve patient’s experience in consuming Bayer’s safe medicine that is relevant to patient’s condition. Bayer’s Pharmacovigilance team works extra hard to detect side effect’s patterns of drugs that are consumed by patients. One of the key steps in ensuring early detection of safety signal is through Adverse Events reporting. To provide access in reporting Bayer’s drugs adverse events (AE), we provide SafeTrack that is accessible online,” he continued.

Prof. Dr. dr. Aru Wisaksono Sudoyo, SpPD, KHOM, FINASIM, FACP, Chairman of Yayasan Kanker Indonesia (YKI) commented on the importance of public knowledge to report drugs’ adverse events, particularly for cancer patients, “For patient safety, medical professionals / Doctors must uphold the “First, Do not Harm” principle or ensuring that they have done all measures to ensure patient safety. However, it is equally important for cancer patients to immediately report to the Doctor should there be adverse effects after consuming certain drugs, hence the Doctor can provide advice for any need of certain medical treatment as well as to change the drugs should another treatment is in order. It can be seen that “Patient Safety” concept is at the hands of everyone who is involved in the treatment process.”

Patients are encouraged to understand, to manage general side effects of drugs that can occur in cancer patients, such as nausea, dizziness, lip crack, and tiredness. Therefore, patients are advised to understand the treatment that s/he will undergo, along with the side effects that may/can occur, while also ensuring lifestyle changes and eating pattern to minimize the side effects of the treatment, whenever possible. Dr. Eko Adhi Pangarsa, SpPD, KHOM – Chairman of YKI, Central Java branch explained, “Side effects may occur during the treatment, ranging from light to heavy side effects. It is best for the patient and her/his family to consult with the doctor to obtain information regarding side effects that may / can occur during the treatment. Patient / family / patient’s caretaker can request information on how to manage side effects, whenever possible. Patient / family / patient’s caretaker is also requested to immediately report to the doctor when side effects that require immediate handling occurred.”

On the reporting of side effects and its benefit for patients and consumers in Indonesia, dr. Jarir At Thobari, D. Pharm., PhD, Chairman of International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) Indonesia explained : “The role of community to actively participate in monitoring and reporting side effects of consumed drugs is very crucial. Reporting will certainly help determine follow-up actions regarding the use of those drugs. ISoP Indonesia, as an independent scientific organization, is committed to advance Pharmacovigilance system in Indonesia, one way to do so is by continuously socializing the importance of drugs’ side effects reporting to the general public, pharmaceutical industry, and health professionals.”

dr. Dewi Muliatin Santoso, Head of Medical Dept. of Pharmaceuticals Division in Bayer Indonesia explained about the presence of SafeTrack as one of the tangible evidences of Bayer’s commitment that prioritizes patient safety and security. According to her, this platform is specifically designed to be easily used by the patients and their families.

“Bayer’s Pharmacovigilance team continuously work hard in collecting data, analyzing data and understanding the pattern of drugs’ side effects. After careful assessment, we then decide what actions need to be taken, such as to minimize the side effect if possible. Patients, their families and their caregivers are all encouraged to be aware of the importance of side effects’ reporting so that we can continuously evaluate patients’ treatment process,” she added.

Bayer is committed to comply to food and drug administration globally, including in Indonesia. For its commitment and efforts, Bayer Indonesia receives Pharmacovigilance award from Indonesia’s Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in 2018.

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About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.3 billion euros.

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Laksmi Prasvita

Head of Communications, Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability

Sri Libri Kusnianti

Communications, Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability

E-mail: sri.libri@bayer.com

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