2016 saw 1,102 cases of medication errors

616 cases of adverse drug reactions also reported to Health Authority Abu Dhabi

Atotal of 616 cases of adverse reactions to medication were reported in Abu Dhabi last year, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad) announced yesterday.

These were side-effects of taking certain kinds of medication that were reported to the emirate’s health sector regulator. There were also 1,102 reports of medication errors, which can occur when a patient does not take a medication in the correct manner or dosage, or because the wrong medication is prescribed, Haad said.

Dr Khalid Al Jaberi, director of health regulation at Haad, said: “This data was collected through Haad’s pharmacovigilance programme, which aims to improve the quality and safety of health care and enhance overall patient experience. [Better vigilance of medication] should facilitate desirable therapeutic outcomes during a patient’s treatment, and help maintain the delicate balance between potential health benefits and risks associated with administering medication.”

Haad’s programme has been in place since 2008.

According to statistics for 2013-15, antibiotics were responsible for 47 per cent of adverse drug reactions in the emirate.

Anti-inflammatory medications caused 19 per cent of these reactions, while painkillers and gastrointestinal drugs each accounted for 5 per cent.

“It is helpful for healthcare providers to know the prevalence and cause of undesirable patient outcomes, as they can use this information to take remedial steps. These outcomes differ from community to community, and Haad’s data is therefore particularly informative with regard to patients in Abu Dhabi,” Dr Rajeshwari Patel, microbiology specialist at Medeor 24x7 Hospital in Abu Dhabi, told Gulf News.

For example, antibiotics being responsible for the majority of adverse drug reactions should encourage doctors to conducts tests and check patient history before prescribing medicines, she said.

“Patients should inform doctors about known drug reactions, and take heed of medication use and dosage instructions,” Dr Patel said.

Haad also urged healthcare providers to continue to report adverse drug reactions and medication errors, through its e-notification system, in order to ensure the quality and safety of drugs available to residents.

If an adverse reaction to a drug is frequently reported, the authority can even take regulatory action to withdraw the drug from the market.

47% of adverse reactions caused by antibiotics in 2013-15, Haad says 19% of side-effects caused by anti-inflammatory medications