By Dr Steph Jones
Happy World Patient Safety Day! To celebrate this annual event Pharmora scientists and medics have been reflecting on how we have contributed to patient safety over the years. Highlights of our contributions include:
- Risk management plans;
- Additional risk minimisation measures (such as developing pharmacy dispensing protocols and educational materials);
- Routine safety surveillance activities;
- Signal evaluations;
- PBRERs and DSURs;
- Reviewing submission documentation for accuracy of safety messaging.
The WHO World Patient Safety Day, which is annually observed on the 17th of September, was first established in 2019 during the 72nd World Health Assembly as a resolution to show that patient safety is a global health priority. Compared to lots of other awareness days and initiatives, this is quite a recent creation. This exemplifies the rising need for patient safety in our landscape of pharmaceutical and medicinal development. The creation of this day also shows the shift in attitude and mindset in the industry, as we strive to ensure patient safety is a top priority.
Visit the official website to learn more about the day: World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2024: “Improving diagnosis for patient safety” (who.int)
This year’s theme from WHO is “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”. With this in mind Pharmora reflected on the following ways we have supported our clients:
- Adjudicating adverse events against recognised diagnostic criteria;
- Supporting clinical trials of anti-cancer treatments with companion diagnostics;
- Reviewing pathology data to determine disease stage accurately (e.g. at baseline or post-surgery) during oncology clinical trials;
- Developing toxicity management guidelines that provide guidance to help identify and manage specific events.
At the end of September Pharmora will be celebrating by holding a “Patient Safety Week”, timed to correspond with some new starters joining our medical team. During that week we will be publishing our patient safety stories, so watch this space!
