Ten-Year Comparison of Medication Complications Rates in Public and Private Hospitals in Victoria, Australia

Medication errors occur as a result of failure in the treatment process at any point in the healthcare system. This is a retrospective study aimed at determining the rates of medication-related errors over a 10-year period in hospitals in Victoria, Australia. From 2009 to 2019, the overall rate for adverse drug events, accidental poisoning and undetermined intent were 86.15, 1.3 and 0.17 per 10,000 hospital separations, respectively. Medication complications occurred more in public hospitals. Adverse drug events account for less than 1% of all hospital separations. Medication errors contributing factors should be investigated in out of hospital environment.