SAVING Consortium Work Package 4 Disseminates Findings on Evidence-Based Regulatory Decision-Making

Accra, Ghana – December 18, 2025

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Ghana, as the lead institution for Work Package 4 of the SAVING Consortium, hosted a high-impact dissemination meeting at the AH Hotel in East Legon to share implementation research findings from both Phase II and Phase III of the Med Safety App study—a digital tool transforming medicine safety monitoring in Ghana.

The meeting, themed “A Regulator’s Journey in Search of Evidence for Decision-Making,” brought together diverse stakeholders, including representatives from the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), media personnel, the Community Pharmacy Association, pharmacies, students, members of the SAVING Consortium, the Ministry of Health, and patient associations, to discuss how implementation research is strengthening the FDA’s capacity to adopt and scale innovative health technologies.

Strengthening Regulatory Capacity Through Research

Mr. Emmanuel Nkrumah, Director of the Cosmetics, Medical Devices, and Household Chemicals Directorate at the FDA, delivered welcome remarks on behalf of Mr. Seth Seneake, the Work Package 4 Lead. He emphasized the FDA’s commitment to evidence-informed regulatory practices.

“As regulators, our decisions have far-reaching implications for public health. Implementation research equips us with the evidence we need to make informed decisions about adopting and scaling new technologies and interventions,” Mr. Nkrumah stated.

DCOP Dr. Ellen Sam, Director of Pharmacy at the Ghana Police Hospital, who chaired the event, highlighted the importance of both studies in advancing pharmaceutical safety and environmental health in Ghana.

Work Package 4 Study: Med Safety App Implementation Research

The first major focus of the dissemination was the Work Package 4 team’s implementation research on the Med Safety App. This comprehensive study involved the entire Work Package 4 team and showcased findings from Phase II implementation and Phase III evaluation.

DCOP Dr. Ellen Sam noted that the Med Safety App represents a significant advancement in pharmacovigilance. “This platform empowers both healthcare professionals and the public to report adverse drug reactions in real-time, strengthening our national safety monitoring system,” she said.

The Implementation Research Journey

Phase I had previously examined the barriers to implementation and the impact of the Med Safety App in Ghana, revealing key insights into adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting practices and regulatory challenges in the country.

Phase II focused on implementing interventions and updating activities related to the Med Safety App, demonstrating how evidence from Phase I informed practical solutions to enhance user adoption and functionality. Mr. Jeremiah Ewudzie Sampson presented key outcomes from Phase I and updates on implementing interventions.

Phase III explored key outcomes from the evaluation of implemented interventions, including user experiences, system improvements, and lessons learned from the implementation research across four regions of Ghana. Mrs. Adela Ashie shared findings from Phases II and III, focusing on practical applications and policy implications.

Critical Findings

A significant revelation from the Phase III evaluation was that reporting on Adverse Reactions (ADRs) and Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) using the Med Safety App had not improved substantially after interventions were implemented. However, the study found that users were actively engaging with other features of the app, particularly the News section (used by 45% of respondents) and the Products list section (31%).

The research demonstrated that understanding user experiences, system barriers, and contextual factors is essential to effectively deploying digital health tools in the country.

Impressive Reach of Awareness Interventions

The awareness creation campaigns implemented during Phase II achieved remarkable reach across the four study regions of Ghana, where monitoring and evaluation were conducted. Through direct engagement activities, the project reached over 17,000 people, including:

• 160 healthcare professionals through direct engagement
• 259 students across multiple institutions
• 12,200 people through community outreach and media activities
• 4,500 healthcare facility staff through pharmacovigilance sensitization programmes

Beyond these direct contacts, the Onua TV show engagement achieved nationwide transmission and reached the platform’s 173,000 Facebook community members, while caller ringtones were deployed to 5,000 mobile phone numbers.

Strategic Recommendations for Scale-Up

Based on the implementation research findings, participants discussed and formulated several strategic recommendations to enhance the Med Safety App’s effectiveness:

• In-app engagement features: Introduction of pop-up notifications to encourage ADR/AEFI reporting and reminders for users who have downloaded the app to actively report side effects
• Accessibility improvements: Making the app disability-friendly to ensure inclusive access across all user groups
• Partnership expansion: Strengthening collaborations with the NCCE and media personnel to boost app uptake and usage
• Telecommunications strategy: Leveraging caller tunes as an awareness intervention, which the Phase III evaluation identified as the most effective medium, with 46% of respondents rating it as the most attractive form of promotion for app adoption
• Healthcare professional engagement: Expanding collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to increase nurse participation in using and promoting the app

PhD Thesis Study: Take Back Unwanted Medicines (TBUM) Implementation Research

The second focus of the dissemination was a separate implementation research project on the Take Back Unwanted Medicines (TBUM) initiative, being conducted as a PhD thesis by Miss Abena Asamoah-Amoakohene, a doctoral student under Work Package 4.

Miss Asamoah-Amoakohene presented findings on evaluating the implementation and impact of the TBUM initiative in Greater Accra. Her research addresses medicine disposal practices and their environmental and safety implications, a critical area at the intersection of public health and environmental protection.

Key Findings and Recommendations

Participants engaged in robust discussions about recommendations for the success of the TBUM intervention and addressing remaining implementation barriers, particularly regarding future steps for Phase II of the research. Key discussions centered on:

• Infrastructure development for collection and disposal
• Community education and awareness strategies
• Deepened collaborations with pharmacies and healthcare facilities
• Environmental monitoring and impact assessment

The research demonstrated that understanding community practices, identifying system barriers, and assessing infrastructure needs are essential to effectively deploying medicine take-back programs in Ghana.

Building Partnerships for Sustainable Impact

The meeting featured a 30-minute overview of the SAVING Project presented by Prof. Magret Gyapong, Principal Investigator of the SAVING Consortium, highlighting the milestones and achievements that have enabled Ghana to advance implementation research across multiple health technology domains.

Prof. Gyapong reinforced the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships. “Work Package 4’s focus on regulatory capacity strengthening is crucial. The FDA’s work on the Med Safety App demonstrates how regulators can use implementation research to enhance their systems, while the TBUM study shows how doctoral research can contribute to addressing complex environmental health challenges,” she noted.

The diverse stakeholder representation at the meeting, including community pharmacists, patient associations, civic education professionals, media personnel, and nursing leaders, underscored the multi-sectoral approach needed for successful health technology and intervention implementation.

A Vision for Responsive Regulatory Systems

In her closing remarks, DCOP Dr. Ellen Sam emphasized the next steps for both studies. For the Med Safety App, she outlined expanding the platform’s reach, strengthening integration with existing health information systems, and continuing the evidence-generation process to inform regulatory policy. For TBUM, she highlighted the importance of scaling the initiative beyond Greater Accra and building sustainable partnerships with community pharmacies.

“Today’s presentations have shown us that implementation research is not just an academic exercise—it is a practical tool that helps us build more responsive, effective regulatory systems. Whether we’re deploying digital tools like the Med Safety App or addressing environmental health through TBUM, evidence must guide our decisions,” Dr. Sam concluded.