Deccan Chronicle 31.08.2009
State computerises prescription system
Chennai, Aug. 30: To avoid dangerous mix-ups in hospital prescriptions, the Tamil Nadu government has introduced a computerised prescription system in 40 government hospitals. It will soon extend the patient friendly system to 200 hospitals across the state, at a cost of Rs 40 crore, health secretary V.K. Subburaj said, at a conference on patient safety.
“There are certain medicines that are classified ‘high alert’ drugs, that could be fatal if administered to the wrong patient. By taking some simple steps to avoid wrong prescriptions and adopting other patient safety measures where surgery is concerned, many lives can be saved,” said Dr Mahesh Vakamudi, HOD, Anesthesiology at Sri Ramachandra Medical University (SRMU).
“While bigger hospitals are required to have these systems in place by the accrediting organisations, smaller clinics need to make an effort to achieve better quality healthcare,” Dr Vakamundi added.
With the World Health Organisation’s goal for the year being ‘Patient safety- safe surgeries save lives’, SRMU and the Indian confederation for healthcare have undertaken the task of driving home the need for standard treatment procedures among smaller hospitals, nursing homes and Public Health Centres.
“While several studies have revealed that 65 per cent of injections administered in Indian hospitals are unsafe, government hospitals follow the WHO safe injection policy, and only use separate disposable syringes. 70 per cent of our injections are safe, and we will soon take it to 100 per cent,” Mr Subburaj said.
Addressing the concern over hospital acquired infection, Subburaj suggested that all medical professionals be immunised against Hepatitis B, to avoid cross infection in the overcrowded hospitals.
This year, WHO has formulated a three-stage checklist for the surgical team to check before, during and after surgery, involving basic precautions
