The World Health Organization (WHO), said medication errors contribute to over 3million deaths globally every year.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, in her message to mark this year’s World Patient Safety Day disclosed that 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.

The day is marked on 17 September every year, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of people-centered care and preventing harm to patients.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti said that this year’s theme, “Medication Safety: Medication Without Harm,” specifically draws attention for the need to improve systems to support safe medication and address unsafe practices.

“It focuses on three primary areas namely: high-risk situations, transitions of care, and polypharmacy, which is the use of multiple medicines at once. Poly pharmacy is particularly common amongst older people with chronic health diseases,” she said.

Dr Moeti noted that consequently, patients’ rights to medication without prejudice can be compromised through inappropriate prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administration and monitoring practices.

She said Global estimates show that medication errors contribute to over 3 million deaths every year, a situation which has been exacerbated by overwhelmed health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“About one in every four cases of preventable medication harm is clinically severe, or life-threatening, while there is limited data for the African continent, it is generally acknowledged that there is a high magnitude of unsafe medication practices among low- and middle-income countries, the African Region has the highest prevalence of substandard and counterfeit medicines (18.7%),” she said.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa however warned that administration of surplus medication at home, the purchase of medication from pharmacies on the advice of friends and relatives rather than trained professionals, and the use of old prescriptions to buy medication to treat a current ailment, are all common practices that should be avoided.

According to her, weak medication systems or human factors are the major contributory factors to unsafe practices, with many countries lacking the capacity to detect, evaluate and prevent medicine safety issues. He noted that other contributory factors include fatigue, inadequate knowledge, training, staff shortages, workplace distractions, high workload and limited resources.

“Illiteracy, language difficulties, as well as socio-cultural and religious beliefs, also play a role and the consequences of this include delays in treating diseases, dependence and abuse, disability, and even death,” she added.

Dr. Moeti said, that Medication Without Harm is aim to reduce severe avoidable medication-related harm by 50% globally in the next five years, through focused activities and interventions targeting three areas:

patients and the public; health care professionals; and medicines, systems and medication practices.

She stated that based on current estimates, US$ 42 billion of total health expenditure worldwide could be averted if medication errors are addressed.

“As WHO, we are working with Member States to implement the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030. A regional patient safety strategy and road map are currently being developed to guide its implementation, some notable highlights include support to establish and strengthen national medicine regulatory authorities (NRAs), by building regulatory capacity and promoting regulatory harmonization and cooperation. Strengthened regulatory systems serve to eliminate barriers which impede access to safe, effective and quality assured medical products.

“To date, 39 Member States have developed essential medicines lists linked to standard treatment guidelines, while 25 have developed national medicine formularies that guide selection of medicines for procurement, good prescribing and dispensing practices. WHO is also supporting overall improvements in Infection Prevention and Control, (IPC), measures, including injection safety, in all Member States,” she added.

The global campaign’s call to action is “KNOW. CHECK. ASK.” It aims to encourage and empower patients and their caregivers, as well as health care professionals, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, to take a more active role in ensuring safer medication practices, and medication-use processes.

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