Reducing the risk of medication related deaths in Nigeria

Adaku Efuribe, throws more light on the dangers of lack of medicines reconciliation and medication review ,using a patient case.

‘As long as we have clinicians who hide the name of prescribed medication from their patients; the rate of duplication of therapy, adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions will continue to increase. Patients have the right to know the medicines prescribed for them’

­Adaku Efuribe

As we clamour for universal health coverage and achieving the UN SDG goal3- Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages. There is one simple step we could take to help improve the health and well- being of Nigerians; We need to bridge the gap of lack of integrated healthcare and patient centred care using a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. We need to put the patient at the centre of care and utilise pharmacist knowledge and input if we must prescribe legally and safely.