The Ministry of Health is taking steps to address the issue of medication errors in the territory through the hosting of a virtual workshop which is scheduled for Thursday March 24 via Zoom from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This was confirmed in a media release by the ministry which said the workshop will be entitled “Optimising pharmaceutical care – Reconciling the stark reality of medication errors”.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services, Mrs. Gracia Wheatley-Smith said, “This workshop is extremely important because we want to empower and educate stakeholders about medication errors, how they occur, how they can impact patients, and most importantly how they can be minimised.”
She added, “I hold the opinion that medicines help but they also harm if they are not used properly…Irrational use of medication can make your medical condition worse or even cause death.”
According to the media release, the workshop will target “health workers including doctors, nurses, geriatric aids, nutritionists, medical imaging personnel, nursing assistants, other health professionals and members of the community.”
The workshop is expected to cater for 100 persons at $10 per individual and will be facilitated by Consultant, Regional and International Speaker on Pharmaceuticals Mr. Francis Burnett.
The ministry also informed that continuing medical education credits are available for participants.
Interested persons can reserve a space by contacting Mrs. Wheatley-Smith at 468-9850 or via email at grwheatley-smith@gov.vg to register.