500,000 Pakistanis die annually due to medical errors, experts claim

Experts have voiced concerns about the absence of qualified pharmacists and trained personnel in hospitals nationwide, warning that over 500,000 people lose their lives annually in Pakistan due to medical errors, particularly improper medication use.

At the First Medication Safety Conference hosted by Alkhidmat Pharmacy Services in Karachi, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and industry leaders shed light on the serious consequences of unregulated medical stores, pharmacies without pharmacists, and improper medication practices.

CEO of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Asim Rauf, acknowledged that medication misuse is a global issue but lamented the lack of reporting on adverse drug reactions in Pakistan. He stressed the importance of trained pharmacists in preventing such errors, as doctors are not always equipped to manage medication safety.

Hospital Pharmacy Standards: "No hospital or pharmacy should operate without a certified pharmacist," said Rauf, adding that DRAP is working on WHO-recommended guidelines to ensure the safe use of medications.

Director of Alkhidmat Pharmacy Services, Syed Jamshed Ahmed, revealed that only 3,000 out of 60,000 pharmacies in Pakistan are staffed with qualified pharmacists. The remaining 95% are run by untrained staff, akin to grocery store operators, often leading to fatal consequences.

Ahmed demanded that operating a pharmacy without a certified pharmacist be declared a criminal offense.

Renowned pharmacist and former director of pharmacy services at Aga Khan University Hospital, Abdul Latif Sheikh, highlighted that illegible prescriptions often result in medication errors, particularly when handled by untrained staff.

Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) representative Sheikh Qaiser Waheed pointed out that 90% of pharmacists, primarily women, leave the profession after marriage, further exacerbating the shortage.

Chairman of Alkhidmat Foundation, Dr. Zahid Latif, emphasized the need for collective action to tackle the challenges of safe medication use and ensure better healthcare access.

The experts unanimously stressed that mandatory employment of qualified pharmacists in pharmacies and hospitals is vital to reducing medical errors and saving lives.