Medication without harm: How far have we come?
Combining clinical expertise with research evidence has so far proven to be a most effective strategy for keeping patients safer.
Medication errors continue to be the leading cause of avoidable harm in health systems around the world, and arguably the most preventable. In Australia, it is estimated that there are 250,000 medication-related hospital admissions, at a cost of $1.4 billion annually to the health system.
The World Health Organization estimates the global cost of medication errors is USD$42 billion annually and “Medication without Harm” is the theme for the current global patient safety challenge.
With the WHO World Patient Safety Day marked around the world on 17 September, it is worth reflecting on how far we have progressed in Australia and where the challenges lie.
Read the full article published in MJA InSight+.
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