(From fourth left) Dr Muhammad Rais, Abu Hassan, Dr Kamaruzaman, Dr Ngian (fourth right) and others at the launch of ‘Medication Safety Awareness Week’ at Sibu Hospital.
SIBU: The ‘Medication Safety Awareness Week’ from Oct 9-13 was launched at Sibu Hospital here yesterday.
Pharmacy Practice and Development Division director Dr Kamaruzaman Saleh said “this annual event by the Pharmaceutical Services Division of the Ministry of Health aims to increase public awareness on safe use of medication and health products.”
“The programme also aimed to increase awareness on steps to be taken for allergic reaction to medication or incorrect dosage.”
Dr Kamaruzaman was speaking at the launch of the programme which was jointly organised by Sarawak Health Department’s Pharmaceutical Services and Sibu Hospital’s Pharmacy Department.
Dr Kamaruzaman said medication safety is the seventh point under Malaysian Patient Safety Goals which prioritise patient safety and well-being.
Pharmacists, he said, have to ensure patients receive the correct medication at the right dosage in the correct manner at the right time.
According to him, during the Second Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety held in Germany on March 29 – 30 this year, the new theme for Global Patient Safety Challenge is ‘Medication Without Harm’.
This international movement under World Health Organisations (WHO) aims to reduce medication-related harm that can be avoided to 50 per cent in the next five years.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Health Department deputy director (Pharmacy) Abu Hassan Alshaari Abdul Jabar who spoke earlier noted that Sibu Hospital has taken multiple approaches to improve patient safety in the hospital.
These include incidence reporting system that examines any medical errors comprehensively in order to formulate preventive measures.
The hospital also uses a two-identifier practice to ensure medicine is given to the correct patients during dispensing and a medical safety audit run by its Pharmacy Department two to four times at each ward and pharmacy unit, he said.
Also present at the function were Sibu Health Department officer Dr Muhammad Rais Abdullah and Sibu Hospital director Dr Ngian Hie Ung.