Medication Errors Special Interest Group of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance and the Trends in International Collaboration for Patient Safety

Abstract

Errors accompanying the use of medicinal products pose a considerable economic as well as clinical burden. Fortunately, many medication errors are potentially preventable. They could be minimized or avoided through better design of medication safety systems with a focus on the ordering, prescription, preparation, and administration of medicines. The main purpose of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) is to promote the safer use of medicines through contributing to better and more education in pharmacovigilance (PV) and training activities worldwide. Therefore, ISoP members are regularly invited and encouraged to be involved in a wide range of activities, either as individual experts or as representatives of their organizations [1]. In order to aid and optimize members’ involvement in prompting patient safety culture in their communities, it is essential that they receive adequate training that could contribute in their professional development. International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) have strived to develop continuing good-quality educational programs internationally, including a mid-year training program, pre-conference courses during the annual meetings, and joint training courses with the World Health Organization–Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) curriculum.