Medication Error Can Happen Everywhere

Medication error happens everywhere, even in countries that one would think are advanced in their healthcare delivery, what more than in Malaysia.

The USFDA recently launched the Safe Use Initiative to reduce drug-related injuries. Out of some 3 billion prescriptions written each year, millions of people are injured from medication use. This could be the result of people's limited access to adequate information about a drug, its risks, or the patient's condition, misunderstanding of drug instructions, dosing and dispensing errors, and unintentional or intentional misuse of medications.

It is estimated that there could be at least 1.5 million preventable drug-related injuries occur in healthcare settings alone. And it is also estimated that up to half of all medication-related injuries could be prevented. Some steps to overcome this problem may be as simple as providing better information to consumers, improving the dispensing devices that accompany drugs and urging caregivers and patients to follow the directions of the drug maker. One example is the use of teaspoon for medication even if a dispensing device is provided. However teaspoons come all sizes.

In the Safe Use Initiative, the FDA will collaborate with the healthcare community, including healthcare professionals, patients, pharmacies, insurers, and other federal agencies, to effectively reduce mismanagement of medication and prevent harm from medication.

Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/711919