JOIN US IN ACHIEVING MEDICATION WITHOUT HARM

Ministerial pledge

Recognizing the serious burden of harm and significant economic impact that medication errors and unsafe medication practices create for patients and health systems throughout the world;

Considering that the majority of medication errors and medication-related harm are avoidable;

Building on the momentum created by the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm and consolidated by the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 to improve medication safety and reduce medication-related harm at the global level;

Emphasizing that a unique opportunity now exists to reverse the incidence of medication errors and medication-related harm globally;

I resolve to improve medication safety through actions such as:

Prioritizing and addressing medication safety at all levels and in all settings of the health care system through allocation of sufficient resources;
Assessing the burden of medication-related harm in the country;
Co-designing and implementing medication safety plans and programmes with stakeholders, including patients and the public, aligned with the components of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm and the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030;
Designating a national coordinator to oversee the implementation of the Challenge and national plans and programmes;
Adopting and observing ongoing campaigns at national or subnational levels, such as World Patient Safety Day 2022 and Know. Check. Ask. to promote and improve safe medication practices among health workers, and safe medication use by patients and the general public;
Establishing a patient safety incident reporting and learning system, including medication safety incidents (medication errors and related harm) at national and institutional levels;
Availing information on medication safety at community and district levels to foster appropriate actions;
Considering the use of WHO strategies and guidelines to tackle medication errors and medication-related harm, with a particular focus on the areas of high-risk situations, transitions of care, and polypharmacy, including a focus on the role of patients and the public, health care professionals, medicines as products, and the systems and practices of medication;
Monitoring progress and evaluating the impact of medication safety plans and programmes;
Sharing experiences and annual progress reports, where appropriate, with the WHO Flagship Initiative: A Decade of Patient Safety 2020–2030, through email address: patientsafety@who.int.