Abstract

REVIEW ON MEDICATION ERRORS - A MAJOR PROBLEM IN INDIA

Madhuri Komati*, Bhargavi Gottapu, Tabitha Sharon M. and Padmalatha Kantamneni

Abstract

Medication errors are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the patients receiving pharmacological treatment for their comorbid conditions. Polypharmacy or the complex pharmacotherapy in the hospitalized patients are considering as a major risk factors of medication errors. Medication errors are common in general clinical practice and in hospitals and occurs at any stage of patient care and drug therapy. Hence there is an essential need for detection, monitoring and prevention of medication errors. Clinical pharmacists play an integral in identification of medication errors and should create awareness among other health care professionals to prevent such errors caused by the drugs. The guidelines for the safe use of drugs in the geriatrics should be established to prevent medication errors.

Keywords: Medication errors, Pharmacological treatment, Polypharmacy, Co-morbid conditions.