BY James Kon

Medication error is one of the most common medical errors reported worldwide, with nearly 1.5 million patients every year harmed due to error with the cost of treating drug-related harm estimated at USD3.5 billion. Local data suggests a similar trend based on incident reports received through the web-based Ministry of Health (MoH) Incident Reporting Tool.

This was said by Consultant Grade II, Head of Patient Safety Unit, of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Dr Yung Chee Kwang at Lobby 5 of the hospital in commemoration of World Patient Safety Day.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar officiated the celebration and visited Wards 3 and 4, which are the ‘model wards’.

Outlining the reason for medication errors, Dr Yung Chee Kwang said, “Common causes of medication error include incorrect diagnosis, prescribing errors, dose miscalculations, poor drug distribution practices, drug and drug device related problems, incorrect drug administration, communication errors and lack of patient education.”

One of the keys to preventing medication error “is the utilisation of an Electronic Prescription Record (EPR) which we have as part of Bru-HIMS since 2013”, he said.

He added, “An EPR contains all the data legally required to fill, label, dispense and submit a payment request for a prescription.

“Pharmacists can use the record as a tool to reduce medication errors by guarding against drug interactions, duplicate therapy and drug contraindications.

“The EPR also helps reduce medication errors by helping pharmacists monitor and audit. It allows physicians to enter prescription orders into a computer directly, thus eliminating or significantly reducing the need for handwritten orders. This helps reduce medication errors by eliminating illegible and poorly handwritten prescriptions, ensuring proper terminology and abbreviations, and preventing ambiguous orders and omitted information.”

Dr Yung Chee Kwang said, “We will continue to strengthen patient safety and safety culture in healthcare facilities in concordance with Strategic Goal 1 of the MoH Strategic Plan 2019-2023 through patient safety activities and quality improvement initiatives.

“I believe that we can make a difference by taking small but meaningful steps to improve the safety of our patients.”

Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the MoH Dr Ang Swee Hui, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Management) at the MoH Dr Hajah Anie Haryani binti Haji Abdul Rahman and Acting Director General of Medical and Health Services Pengiran Dr Haji Md Khalifah bin Pengiran Haji Ismail, as well as senior officers and staff from the ministry, were also present.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin