Medication Safety Practice in Selected Saudi Hospitals: Alignment with the World Health Organization Global...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Saudi Arabia, like many nations, initiated programs to align with the World Health Organization's Global Medication Safety Challenge.
• This research investigates the specific strategies employed by Saudi hospitals to tackle medication safety concerns.
• The study was prompted by the WHO's Global Medication Safety Challenge and its adoption in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent and nature of interventions implemented by Saudi hospitals.
• To evaluate how these interventions align with the World Health Organization's Medication Safety Challenge framework.
• To identify areas of focus and potential gaps in medication safety initiatives within Saudi healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to medication safety officers in Saudi secondary and tertiary care hospitals.
• Data collection occurred between January and June 2025, utilizing a survey adapted from existing tools.
• Interventions were categorized using the WHO Medication Safety Challenge framework, analyzed via descriptive and thematic methods.

Main Results:

• A total of 162 interventions were reported by 28 hospitals.
• The most common intervention domains were medication systems and practices (41.3%) and healthcare professionals (29%).
• Interventions predominantly targeted high-risk situations (81.4%) within the WHO priority areas.

Conclusions:

• Saudi hospitals have concentrated efforts on medication systems, professional practices, and managing high-risk scenarios.
• There is an opportunity to enhance medication safety by increasing focus on polypharmacy and patient engagement.
• Findings suggest a need for broader strategies to fully address the WHO Medication Safety Challenge in Saudi Arabia.