Medications are the most widely utilized interventions in health care, and medication-related harm constitutes the greatest proportion of the total preventable harm due to unsafe care, let alone the economic and psychological burden imposed by such harm. Acknowledging this substantial burden and recognizing the complexity of medication-related harm prevention and reduction, “Medication Safety” has been selected as the theme for World Patient Safety Day 2022.
The campaign is envisaged to provide the needed impetus to consolidate the efforts of the existing WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm, emphasizing the need to adopt a systems approach and promote safe medication practices to prevent medication errors and reduce medication-related harm. Special consideration will be given to areas where most harm occurs. The key action areas are high-risk situations, transitions of care, and polypharmacy.
Objectives
1.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.
2. ENGAGE key stakeholders and partners in the efforts to prevent medication errors and reduce medication-related harm.
3.EMPOWER patients and families to be actively involved in the safe use of medication.
4.SCALE UP implementation of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.
Key messages
Target audience
Key messages
Policy-makers and programme managers
Ensure medication safety is addressed at all levels and in all settings in the health care system
Assess the burden of medication-related harm in your country
Integrate medication safety into every stage of patient care
Co-design and implement medication safety programmes with stakeholders, including patients and public
Establish a patient safety incident reporting and learning system, including medication safety incidents (medication errors and related harm)
Monitor progress and evaluate the impact of medication safety programmes
Launch Know. Check. Ask. as the medication safety campaign across the country
Health care leaders and facility managers
Designate a focal point and a multidisciplinary team to develop processes to ensure medication safety in your facility
Develop and implement standard operating procedures for safe medication use, taking into account the risk of human error
Make sure there are sufficient staff to cover patients’ medication needs
Provide opportunities to train health workers on safe medication use
Operationalize a patient safety incident reporting and learning system, including medication safety incidents (medication errors and related harm)
Create a safety culture where health workers are able to raise safety concerns related to medications
Prioritize action in areas where most medication-related harm occurs, such as high-risk situations, transitions of care and polypharmacy
Put in place strategies to reduce the risk of medication errors, such as double-checking, patient engagement and using information technology to improve processes
Health workers
Keep your skills in safe medication practices up to date
Provide clear and full medication-related information to all members of the clinical team throughout the process of care
Report medication safety incidents, and share and apply lessons learned with your team and patients when possible
Be mindful of situations where risk from medications is high and ensure safety measures are followed
Mentor new members of your team on safe medication systems and practices
Patients, families and 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
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