The Federal Government says it will develop a National Policy and Strategy on Patient Safety and Quality of care to reduce severe preventable medication-related harm by 50%, in the next 5 years.
The policy focuses on improving medication safety, surgical safety and the safety of all medical procedures.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire made this known at a briefing to commemorate the 2022 World Patient Safety Day with the theme: ‘Medication Safety and the slogan is: ‘Medication without Harm’.
The Minister, who was represented by the Director and Head of Hospital Services, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi said he was optimistic that the National policy would be launched this year and deployed for use at all health facilities.
He said the benefits of medications could not be overemphasized, as they could sometimes cause serious harm if not used correctly either as a result of miscommunication between the patient and healthcare giver, error in prescriptions, poor monitoring of a patient on medication and misuse of antibiotics.
The minister explained that the goal of Medication Safety is to reduce severe and preventable medication-related harm by 50% in the next 5 years by addressing harm resulting from errors or unsafe practices in the health system.
Dr Ehanire urged Patients to ask questions about the medications prescribed, know their names, and learn about the side effects of the drugs taken.
The World Health Organization, WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo stressed that Medication errors occur commonly due to weaknesses in medication systems, shortages of well-trained health staff, and poor working environmental conditions for delivery of quality health care.
This he said could Consequently without prejudice compromised the patients’ rights to medication through inappropriate prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administration and monitoring practices.
