Medication Errors: Ensuring Patient’s Safety A Collective Responsibility – Federal Govt

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s World Patient Safety Day, the federal government has called for safer medication practices.

The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made the call during a press briefing to commemorate the World Patient Safety Day, themed: ‘Medication without Harm’, in Abuja.

He called for collective efforts between the government and relevant stakeholders towards achieving  the goal of “Medication without harm”, saying the goal is to reduce severe preventable medication-related harm by 50 per cent, in the next five years by addressing harm resulting from errors or unsafe practices in the health system.

This, he said can be achieved by making improvements at each stage of the medication process, including prescribing, dispensing, administering, monitoring and use.

World Patient Safety Day is marked annually on 17 September, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of people-centred care and preventing harm to patients.

Represented by the director, Hospital Services, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, the minister noted that the benefits of drugs/medications cannot be over emphasised. However, he said that medications can sometimes cause serious harm if not used correctly.

This harm, the minister said  an occur either as a result of miscommunication between the patient and healthcare giver, error in prescriptions, poor monitoring of patient on medication,  misuse of antibiotics which can result in antimicrobial resistance, confusion in dispensing look alike and sound alike drugs, etc.

“Most patients especially those on long term medications for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, etc. are not aware of medications prescribed for them. Some patients abuse medications such as antibiotics that can create problems of antimicrobial resistance.

“Polypharmacy which is the routine use of four or more over-the-counter, prescription and/or traditional medications at the same time by a patient can also cause harm from multi drug interactions and increase the side effects of drugs.

“Miscommunications can also occur when patients’ drugs are not properly handed over either during change in shifts or transfer of care from one health facility to another”, said Ehanire.

He insisted that everyone has a role in promoting ‘Medication without Harm’, saying “Patients should be empowered to ask questions about the medications prescribed, know their names, and learn about the side effects of drugs being taken.”

However, the minister said that Nigeria was already working to develop its National Policy and Strategy on Patient Safety and Quality of care.

“The policy focuses on improving medication safety, surgical safety, safety of all medical procedures etc. Sensitisation and capacity are ongoing in our Federal Tertiary Health Institutions in the form of training on medication safety, infection prevention control, and other aspects of patient safety,” he explained.

“It is my hope that hospitals at all levels will be able to adopt and implement patient safety at different levels of care.

“Patient safety is everybody’s business and it requires the active participation of many key partners ranging from patients and their families to governmental, nongovernmental and professional organisations.

“This policy document will improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and client satisfaction by establishing the systems for assessing, measuring and improving patient safety at all levels of care in Nigeria, the minister explained.

Also speaking at the event, the World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said the theme specifically draws attention to the need to improve systems to support safe medication, and address unsafe practices.

Represented by the deputy country representative, Dr Alex Chimbaru, he said medication errors occur most commonly due to weaknesses in medication systems, and are aggravated by shortages of well-trained health staff, and poor working and environmental conditions for delivery of quality health care.

Consequently, patients’ rights to medication without prejudice can be compromised through inappropriate prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administration and monitoring practices, he said.

He, however, said that WHO was working with Member States to implement the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, adding that a regional patient safety strategy and road map are currently being developed to guide its implementation.