Black Triangle Medicine Safety Symbol Struggles to Raise Awareness, Study Finds
09 Jun 2026
Researchers surveyed more than 400 patients and healthcare professionals and found that only 10% of patients and 52% of healthcare workers recognised the Black Triangle Scheme. Even among those who had seen the symbol before, many did not understand its purpose.
The Black Triangle Scheme was introduced by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2018. The upside-down black triangle appears on information for certain medicines that are newly approved or approved for new uses. It is designed to encourage the reporting of suspected side effects and help build a better understanding of medicine safety.
The study found that awareness improved significantly once people were given a simple explanation. Around two-thirds of participants said they would be more likely to report side effects linked to medicines carrying the symbol after learning what it meant.
Lead researcher Dr Eyob Gebreyohannes from the University of Adelaide said the symbol is often overlooked and can be misunderstood. Some people assumed it was warning them about a dangerous medicine rather than indicating a medicine under additional monitoring.
The scheme currently applies to several commonly used medicines, including diabetes, weight-loss and heart-failure treatments such as empagliflozin, semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Researchers believe the scheme would be more effective if alerts were built into prescribing software and electronic medical records. Participants also suggested improving education for healthcare professionals and making the symbol more visible during consultations and when medicines are prescribed.
RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care Deputy Chair Professor Rowena Ivers said GPs can help patients understand the risks and benefits of new medicines and support them in reporting suspected side effects.
The study also highlighted that patients can report side effects directly to the TGA and that greater awareness could help identify rare or unexpected medicine reactions sooner.
Researchers are now working with the TGA to improve the design and visibility of the Black Triangle Scheme before conducting further evaluations of its impact.
Black Triangle Medicine Safety Symbol Struggles to Raise Awareness, Study Finds
Source: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and newsGP (RACGP news)