Call for efforts to prevent medication-related errors

MUSCAT: The Regional World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday concluded activities of the Third Global Patient Safety Challenge for Eastern Mediterranean Region at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). The event included signing the final act of the 3rd challenge “Medication without Harm” by the WHO member states. The final act stipulated the commitment and support of the WHO’s member states to the strategic plan set up by the WHO and seeking to reduce damages caused by unsafe use of medicines by 50 per cent during the five next year.

The health minister signed the final act that asserts the Sultanate’s commitment to strengthening the health systems to reduce drug errors. The challenge, which launched by the Sultanate represented by the Ministry of Health and SQU in collaboration with the WHO, witnessed a large participation from the WHO Eastern Mediterranean member states, including the Sultanate, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Syria, Somali, Tunisia, Yemen, Sudan, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The two-day event included an exhibition of health institutions in the Sultanate regarding the safe use of medicines. — ONA