Healthcare workers have been challenged to be more patient focused in line with the Kenya quality model for health even as the government intensify efforts to improve processes on patient safety.
Speaking at the Kenyatta National Hospital during celebrations to mark world patients’ safety day, acting director in-charge of Health Standards and Quality Assurance Dr Simon Kibias who was representing acting director general for health Dr. Patrick Amoth, said there was a need to prioritize patients’ safety while practicing empathy towards them.
“I urge medical practitioners to let patient focus be at the core of our duty. Strive to put a smile on our patients “said Dr.Kibias
The event, that is marked annually on the 17th of September to raise global awareness of the high burden of medication related harm as a result of medication errors and other unsafe practices, brought together different players in the health sector, policy makers as well as patients and victims who are victors of misdiagnosis, unsafe medication practices and other factors.
The event culminated with the launch of the National Action Plan Patient Safety/Health care workers Safety and Quality of care, a policy document aimed at highlighting the need for patient safety and the role it plays in reducing costs while improving quality of health care services.
The objectives of this year’s celebrations include raising global awareness of the high burden of medication-related harm due to medication errors and unsafe practices, engaging key stakeholders and partners in the efforts to prevent medication errors and reduce medication-related harm, empowering patients and families to be actively involved in the safe use of medication as well as scaling up implementation of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.
Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of avoidable harm in health care across the world. Medication errors occur when weak medication systems and human factors such as fatigue, poor environmental conditions or staff shortages affect the safety of the medication use process. This can result in severe patient harm, disability and even death.
Source: Ministry of Health