香港醫學會響應世界患者安全日 呼籲關注用藥安全
世界衞生組織（世衞）由2019年起，將每年9月17日定為世界患者安全日。世界患者安全日的目標旨在提高全球對患者安全的瞭解，增加公眾對醫療安全的參與程度，促進全球行動以防止並減少可避免的醫療傷害。
因應新冠病毒病大流行而加劇的用藥錯誤和用藥傷害風險，世衞今年將世界患者安全日的主題訂為「用藥安全」。用藥錯誤是造成可避免的用藥相關傷害主要原因之一；世衞估算，如果可以防止用藥錯誤，全球每年可減少420億美元醫療支出。
有賴專業的醫護團隊，香港的藥物事故率一直維持在低水平。根據醫院管理局（醫管局）統計，去年接獲約80宗藥物錯誤個案[1]。對此，香港醫學會呼籲市民及醫護同工加強警惕，身體力行「了解、檢查、詢問」的世衞行動倡議，推動及促進安全用藥。醫學會亦計劃籌備多項持續醫學進修活動，加強對安全用藥的關注和實踐。
病人作為用藥安全的最大持份者，需時刻謹慎，按照醫生指示服藥，和避免使用不明成藥。醫學會會長鄭志文醫生提醒病人：「第一，要了解為何服用該藥物，其作用、副作用及使用方法。第二，要檢查服用的藥物。長期服藥容易出現食錯藥、份量不正確及不依時服藥的情況，需要每天服用多種藥物的長者尤其要注意。因此，需要用適當方法檢查自己服藥的份量、時間是否準確。例如使用有多格的藥盒，預先分配好每日不同時段所需服食的藥物及份量，可避免出錯。第三，當病人遇到疑問，便應向醫生詢問。不要輕信廣告指某些藥物並無副作用，或相隔兩小時可服食各類不同藥物等錯誤信息。總之，最重要是問清楚，那便用藥安全，患者安全。」
世衞就今年的世界患者安全日制作了不少教育素材，有興趣的醫護人員及公眾人士，請瀏覽https://www.who.int/zh/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2022，了解更多關於患者安全的資訊。
二零二二年九月十六日
參考資料：
[1] HA Risk Alert Issue 66 (Jul 2022): https://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/cc/E_HARA66th.pdf
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16 September 2022
The Hong Kong Medical Association responds to World Patient Safety Day and
calls for attention to medication safety
Starting in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 17 September annually as World Patient Safety Day. Objectives of the day are to enhance global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in health care safety, and promote global action to prevent and reduce avoidable harm in health care.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated the risk of medication errors and associated medication-related harm; hence, "Medication Safety" has been selected as the theme for this year. In fact, medication errors are one of the main causes of avoidable medication-related harm; WHO estimates that US $42 billion of annual global health spending can be avoided if medication errors are prevented.
Thanks to our professional medical and healthcare staff, the medication incident rate in Hong Kong has been low. However, medication errors still occur from time to time. According to the Hospital Authority (HA), around 80 medication errors were recorded last year[2]. In this regard, the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) appeals to all medical staff to stay vigilant and implement the WHO's call to action "know, check, ask" to enhance medication safety. The HKMA also plans to arrange a series of continuing medical education activities to boost doctors' acknowledgement and practice of safe medication.
As the most significant stakeholder in medication safety, it is important for patients to be cautious at all times, such as taking medicines as prescribed and refusing to take unknown drugs. Dr. Cheng Chi-man, President of the HKMA, noted: "First of all, you have to know the medicines prescribed, their effects, side effects and the usage. Secondly, check your medications carefully. Very often, people under long-term medication mix up different kinds of drugs and the dosage, or not sticking to the medication routine, especially elders who have loads of drugs on hand. There are ways to help you ensure the right amount and time of medication. For example, you may use a pill case with multiple compartments to organize the kind and dose of medicines you need at different times of the day. This can help to avoid errors. Thirdly, always ask your doctor when you have any doubts. Don’t believe in advertisements claiming that certain medicine have no side effects, or one can take different medicines with two-hour interval. All in all, remember to ask if you’re not sure, medication safety prevents patients from harm.”
WHO has also produced several campaign materials for World Patient Safety Day this year. Interested healthcare workers and the public can visit https://www.who.int/en/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2022 to learn more information about patient safety.
Reference:
[2] HA Risk Alert Issue 66 (Jul 2022): https://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/cc/E_HARA66th.pdf
編輯備忘：香港醫學會成立於一九二零年，旨在聯繫政府、各公立醫療機構、大學及私人執業的醫務工作者，交流意見，團結一心。醫學會致力將最新的醫療資訊及醫務發展傳遞與會員，提倡會員遵行專業操守，進而服務社會，維護民康。
Notes to editors: The Hong Kong Medical Association, founded in 1920, aims to bring together Hong Kong's government, institutional, university and private medical practitioners for an effective exchange of views and co-ordination of efforts. The foremost objective of the Association is to safeguard and promote public health. The Association speaks collectively for its members and aims to keep its members abreast of medical ethics, issues and advances around the world. In fulfilling these goals, the association hopes to better serve the people of Hong Kong.
查詢 ：袁巧蓮女士 電話 ：2527 8941
網址 ：www.hkma.org 電郵 ：media@hkma.org