Risk Communication with Patients

Abstract

Recently, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has made efforts toward the strengthening of dissemination of appropriate drug and safety information through information service for healthcare professionals. Furthermore, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) enforced webpages regarding drug safety information tools, such as PMDA "MediNavi". In European Medicines Agency (EMA), during the preparation of information (such as patient leaflets), the Agency interacts and cooperates with patients' and consumers' organizations to ensure that it is adequately formulated and comprehensible to the target audience. To disseminate information that is of real good service to patients, further risk communication with patients (patient involvement) is expected.