Towards the safer use of medicines.

In Britain the tools are now available to provide better information on safety of medicines in both hospital and community settings, and this could be done at relatively modest cost. The needs of patients, doctors, and pharmacists are changing; although more research is needed, such information as is presently available must be both better and more widely publicised and understood. Universities, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and educated journalism all have an important part to play in this process.