The use of medicines is the most common intervention in health care. The safe and appropriate use of medicines transforms people’s health for the better.
Medicine safety
However, the use of medicines can also cause problems. PSA landmark report Medicine Safety: Take Care found 250,000 Australians are hospitalised each year and another 400,000 present to emergency departments as a result of medicine problems. At least half of this harm could have been prevented.
PSA’s medicine safety report series reveals the extent and nature of problems with medicine safety in Australia, and highlights opportunities to make meaningful improvements to the safe use of medicines – protecting consumers from harm and improving quality of life.
