Medication safety spontaneous reporting system

Abstract

Background: The increase in medication use and expansion of the pharmaceutical industry has led to an increase in hazards, errors and adverse events associated with medication use. In Lebanon, medication safety reporting by pharmacists is lacking due to the absence of an official reporting system. Objective: The objective of the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon (OPL) was to engage pharmacists in reporting the adverse drug reactions by creating an efficient tool for this purpose. Methods: The scientific committee at the OPL worked on designing a reporting tool for adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results: An electronic platform was created, and several training sessions were conducted for professionals who would be involved in helping community or hospital pharmacists in launching the platform. The form was tuned based on the findings of the Community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists and the general population questionnaires about medication safety culture, to fit the needs of the practice and to be comprehensive and aligned with international validated standards. Conclusion: Pilot testing is ongoing and regular continuing education sessions and sensitization campaigns are planned, in parallel to the official launching of the project in collaboration with the MOPH. This program has important implications in terms of public health, since knowledge and attitudes are viewed as potentially modifiable factors and their improvement is expected to decrease underreporting; the OPL is also hoping to improve the patient safety culture in Lebanon.