Medical Practitioners Implore Active Involvement in Patients’ Welfare to Improve Safety

 Nairobi,

Saturday, September 16, 2023

KNA by Stephannie Ndunge/ Carol Mawia

 The Ministry of Health commemorated World Patient Safety Day under the theme ‘Engaging patients for Patient Safety’ in recognition of the crucial role that patients, families, and caregivers play in terms of health care. 

The objectives of the theme are to increase public awareness engagement, enhance global understanding, work towards global solidarity in African member states as well, and raise global engagement for patients and caregivers in all settings to improve patient safety. 

Speaking during the occasion Dr. Francis Karanja of the Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (KAPI) said that the safety and satisfaction of patients is paramount. 

“By becoming active members of the healthcare team, patients can contribute to the safety of their health and that of the healthcare system as a whole,” stated Karanja.  He further said that through the slogan ‘elevate the voice of patients for Patient Safety KAPI joins the WHO’s call for all stakeholders to take necessary action in ensuring that patients are involved in policy formulation, represented in governance structures, and engaged in co-designing safety strategies.  At the same time, Dr. Dorothy Aywak from the Hospital Pharmacy Association of Kenya emphasized the importance of getting the right patient and giving them the right treatment, the right dose, and the right duration. 

“Patient safety is a paramount concern in healthcare, aiming to prevent and reduce risks, errors, and harm that occur during the provision of medical services. Alarming statistics reveal the pressing need for concerted efforts to enhance patient safety worldwide,” advised Aywak. 

Echoing the aforementioned, Dr. Gikonyo from the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya disclosed that every year, 421 million people are hospitalized worldwide, with a staggering 42.7 million resulting in adverse events. 

“Due to unsafe care, adverse events are likely one of the top 10 leading causes of death and disability worldwide,” he reiterated. 

Gikonyo further pointed out that as many as four in every 10 patients globally experience harm in primary and outpatient care settings, and a staggering 80 percent of this harm is preventable with key areas of concern including diagnosis, prescription, and medication use. 

Meanwhile, Head of African Research of Pharmacovigilance Dr. Christabel Khaemba said that strategies need to be put in place to ensure minimal harm to the patient, and where the harm is completely unavoidable, there needs to be safe mitigation practices put in place.

 He added that the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) ensures that patients get quality, safe, and efficacious health products and technologies. 

Khaemba maintained that there needs to be a focus on equipping medical professionals, and training them with confidence to be able to talk to patients and advise them properly. 

He stressed the right of consumers to be given the correct medication, and for medical practitioners to walk with all the patients throughout their healing journey.

  “There are more than 20,000 points where patients can get medicine in this country. For example, public hospitals, unregistered places, and pharmacies. We need to take responsibility for our patients so that none of them ends up getting medicine from unregistered firms, since this will put them at greater risk,” cautioned Khaemba.

Courtesy;KNA