By Blessing David
Health experts have maintained that the benefits of drugs/medications cannot be over emphasised, however medications can 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 patient on medication, misuse of antibiotics which can result in antimicrobial resistance, confusion in dispensing look alike and sound alike drugs, just to mention a few.
Minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire made this known today while briefing the press in Commemoration of the World Patient Safety Day which started in May 2019 when the World Health Assembly adopted the Resolution for global action on patient safety.
He explained that ,the day is marked annually on 17th September and commemorated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), International partners and all countries with the aim of increasing public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy for adoption of best practices at the point of care to promote patient safety.
He said the goal of Medication Safety as is to reduce severe and preventable medication related harm by 50% in the next 5 years specifically by addressing harm resulting from errors or unsafe practices in the health system which can be achieved by making improvements at each stage of the medication process, including prescribing, dispensing, administering, monitoring and use.
The minister who was glad to be part of this year’s activities ,echoed that the event was apt as it present’s the opportunity to advocate for safer medication practices as well as a call for action for Government and relevant Stakeholders to work together to achieve the goal of “Medication without harm”. The goal is to reduce severe preventable medication-related harm by 50%, in the next 5 years.
Ehanire who also identified underreporting of medication errors as also an issue, said study conducted by Ogunleye et al on medication errors amongst health care professionals (doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists) in 10 tertiary hospitals across the country shows 35.5% of 2386 professionals participated in this study reported medication error, while 33.4% did not think reporting was necessary.
The minister pointed out that patients and members of the public are sometimes passive while receiving drug treatment as most patients especially those on long term medications for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, are not aware of medications prescribed for them while Some patients abuse medications such as antibiotics that can create problems of antimicrobial resistance.
He said 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, as such, Patients should be empowered to ask questions about the medications prescribed, know their names, and learn about the side effects of drugs being taken.
“Moving on from Medication error, we have seen quite a number of surgical errors which include but are not limited to operations on the wrong side, ligation of Ureters during hysterectomy, including stories of how surgical instruments, sponges and needles were left inside a patient. We have seen cases where the wrong patient was wheeled into the operating room because they were bearing similar names etc”.
He expressed hope that Nigeria is working to develop its National Policy and Strategy on Patient Safety and Quality of care which should be completed and launched this year so that it can be deployed for use in all health facilities at all levels of care.
The policy focuses on improving medication safety, surgical safety, safety of all medical procedures, sensitization and capacity are ongoing in the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions in the form of training on medication safety, infection prevention control, and other aspects of patient safety,he added.
“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 organizations. 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”.
He charged all State ministries of Health, NAFDAC, heads of health care facilities, Educational and research institutions Regulatory and professional bodies, Health care professional societies Patient advocacy groups, Donors and sundry stakeholders including development partners, Pharmaceutical industries and the Media to join hands with the Federal Ministry of Health to reduce medication errors and ensure safer medication practices to enthrone patient safety in Nigeria.