Yellow Card Scheme

This article is about adverse reactions in human medicine. For veterinary medicine, see Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme.

The Yellow Card Scheme is the UK system for collecting information on suspected Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) to medicines. The Scheme was founded in 1964 after the thalidomide disaster, and was developed by Dr Bill Inman. It is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM). Suspected ADRs are collected on all licensed medicines and vaccines, from those issued on prescription to medicines bought over the counter from a pharmacist or supermarket. The Scheme also includes all herbal preparations and unlicensed medicines. ADRs can be reported by anyone; this is usually done by healthcare professionals - including doctors, pharmacists and nurses - but patients and carers can also make reports.

The sort of ADRs that should be reported are:

• ADRs that have caused death or a serious illness
• Any ADR, however minor, if associated with a new medicine or one that is under continued monitoring (highlighted in the British National Formulary (BNF) with a ▼ black triangle)
• Any ADR, however minor, if associated with a child (under 18 years of age) or in pregnancy

Yellow Cards are available from pharmacies and a few are presented near the back of the BNF as tear-off pages.

Reports can also be submitted online through the MHRA-run Yellow Card Scheme website. The NHS Information Standards Board for Health and Social Care is currently developing an information standard for electronic submission of ADRs by IT systems. This is based upon the ICS E2B (R2) international standard

See also

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• Pharmacovigilance
• EudraVigilance
• Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO)
• British National Formulary

External links

• Commission on Human Medicines (CHM)
• Yellow Card Scheme website