Medication Without Harm - WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge

This document is an initiative of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge, emphasizing the criticality of medication safety. It underscores the urgent need to mitigate medication-related harm, which costs an estimated US$ 42 billion annually. The challenge's primary objective is to curtail severe, avoidable medication-related harm by 50% in five years. This goal encompasses refining various stages of the medication process, from prescribing to monitoring. The document delineates a strategic framework addressing four core issues: patients' awareness, the intricacies of medicines, the practices of health care professionals, and the systemic flaws in medication administration. To achieve its objectives, the challenge outlines early priority actions, developmental programs, and global initiatives, with a particular emphasis on high-risk situations, polypharmacy, and care transitions. The challenge also calls upon WHO Member States to prioritize medication safety at a national level, fostering a collaborative approach to ensure patient safety.