The 17th of September 2022 is World Patient Safety Day, one of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global public health days.
It was established in 2019 by the seventy-second World Health Assembly through the adoption of resolution WHA72.6 – “Global action on patient safety”.
The global objectives are to:
- Increase public awareness and engagement;
- Enhance global understanding; and
- Work toward global solidarity and action by the Member States to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm.
Medication Without Harm
This year the theme is medication safety, with the slogan ‘Medication Without Harm’.
Medications are the most widely used interventions in health care. Medication harm accounts for 50% of overall avoidable harm in medical care.
The below statistics highlight the extent of the issue:
- One in 20 patients attending healthcare facilities is exposed to avoidable medication harm
- One in four patients faces severe or life-threatening harm
- 42 billion US Dollars of annual global health spending can be avoided if medication errors are prevented.
Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2022:
- RAISE global awareness of the high burden of medication-related harm due to medication errors and unsafe practices, and ADVOCATE urgent action to improve medication safety.
- ENGAGE key stakeholders and partners in the efforts to prevent medication errors and reduce medication-related harm.
- EMPOWER patients and families to be actively involved in the safe use of medication.
- SCALE UP implementation of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.
Key messages for patients, families, and the general public:
- When prescribed a medication, check with your health worker that you have all the information you need to take it safely. Follow the Know. Check. Ask. actions
- Keep an up-to-date list of all the medications you take, including traditional medicines, and share it with your treating health workers
- Take your medications as recommended by your health worker
- Use the 5 Moments for Medication Safety tool to keep you safe while taking your medications
- Be aware of the potential side effects of your medications
- Store your medications as indicated and check the expiration date regularly
- Raise any concerns about your medication with your health worker
Comment
Every person around the world will likely at some point in their lives, take medications to treat or prevent illness.
As medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of avoidable harm to patients, raising awareness and increasing education is therefore an extremely important step in ensuring patient safety.
How can we help?
Georgina Sheppard is a Paralegal in our expert Medical Negligence team, which is ranked in tier one by the independently researched publication, Legal 500.
At Nelsons, we have an experienced team of solicitors across our Derby, Leicester and Nottingham offices, who are always happy to discuss the circumstances of your claim and advise you on whether you are likely to be successful.
Please call 0800 024 1976 or contact us via our online form for more information.
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