Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily [Reporter Zhong Peifang / Taipei Report] September 6, 2012
Taiwanese love taking medicine, with medication usage being 7.2 times that of the United States. In the U.S., if a patient is prescribed five or more medications, pharmacists are legally required to monitor them to avoid risks associated with drug use. However, Taiwan lacks such a mechanism to safeguard public medication. Li Shuping, Chairman of the National Union of Pharmacists Associations, stated yesterday (5th) that the public should be educated on the concept of "correctly utilizing medical resources and healthcare professionals." In particular, pharmacists' expertise should be given room to shine. Only by first making the public aware of pharmacists' professionalism can good medical quality be achieved and the financial burden on healthcare be reduced.
According to a 1995 survey report published by the U.S. "Institute of Medicine," an estimated 1.5 million Americans are harmed annually due to "medication errors," with 190,000 of them losing their lives.
Taiwan's population is one-tenth that of the U.S. Conservatively estimating, the annual number of deaths due to medication errors in Taiwan should be 19,000. However, considering the Taiwanese lifestyle and healthcare habits, the actual number of deaths is likely far higher.
In 1994, the cost of medication-related harm in the U.S. reached as high as $76.6 billion. Taiwan's medication usage is over seven times that of the U.S., with medication expenses in 2011 soaring to NT$142.1 billion. It can be inferred that Taiwan's medical costs due to improper medication must exceed NT$142.1 billion, and the number of deaths must surpass 20,000.
Public "medication safety" should be safeguarded by pharmacists' expertise. "Pharmaceutical care" is the field where pharmacists can fully utilize their professional skills and is also the most direct way to oversee public medication. Through pharmaceutical care, pharmacists can assess patients' disease conditions, medication usage, administration methods, and whether the medication is achieving its therapeutic effects. It can also prevent health problems arising from improper medication.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E5……E7- 2% E5% 80% 8D- 160645686. html
Chinese Take 7.2 Times More Drugs Than Americans
Taiwanese love taking medicine, with medication usage being 7.2 times that of the United States. In the U.S., if a patient is prescribed five or more medications, pharmacists are legally required to monitor them to avoid risks associated with drug use. However, Taiwan lacks such a mechanism to safeguard public medication. Li Shuping, Chairman of the National Union of Pharmacists Associations, stated yesterday (5th) that the public should be educated on the concept of "correctly utilizing medical resources and healthcare professionals." In particular, pharmacists' expertise should be given room to shine. Only by first making the public aware of pharmacists' professionalism can good medical quality be achieved and the financial burden on healthcare be reduced.
According to a 1995 survey report published by the U.S. "Institute of Medicine," an estimated 1.5 million Americans are harmed annually due to "medication errors," with 190,000 of them losing their lives.
Taiwan's population is one-tenth that of the U.S. Conservatively estimating, the annual number of deaths due to medication errors in Taiwan should be 19,000. However, considering the Taiwanese lifestyle and healthcare habits, the actual number of deaths is likely far higher.
In 1994, the cost of medication-related harm in the U.S. reached as high as $76.6 billion. Taiwan's medication usage is over seven times that of the U.S., with medication expenses in 2011 soaring to NT$142.1 billion. It can be inferred that Taiwan's medical costs due to improper medication must exceed NT$142.1 billion, and the number of deaths must surpass 20,000.
Public "medication safety" should be safeguarded by pharmacists' expertise. "Pharmaceutical care" is the field where pharmacists can fully utilize their professional skills and is also the most direct way to oversee public medication. Through pharmaceutical care, pharmacists can assess patients' disease conditions, medication usage, administration methods, and whether the medication is achieving its therapeutic effects. It can also prevent health problems arising from improper medication.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E5……E7- 2% E5% 80% 8D- 160645686. html