25/05/2025
A Call to All Healthcare Workers: Preventing Medication Errors Starts with Clear Communication
This image is a real reminder of how illegible handwriting on prescriptions can lead to medication errors—putting patients’ lives at risk.
Medication errors are preventable.
Yet across hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the Philippines, one common cause persists: unclear or unreadable prescriptions.
Why This Matters:
• A misread dosage or medication name can result in overdose, allergic reactions, or ineffective treatment.
• Pharmacists may dispense the wrong drug due to guesswork.
• Nurses may administer the wrong dosage or frequency.
• Patients may lose trust in our health system due to adverse events that could have been avoided.
To All Prescribers:
• Write clearly or better, use printed e-prescriptions when possible.
• Always include the generic name, dose, route, frequency, and duration.
• Avoid abbreviations that can be misinterpreted.
To Pharmacists and Nurses:
• Never guess. If unsure, verify with the prescriber before administering or dispensing.
• Be an advocate for patient safety—double-check prescriptions.
Let’s commit to making healthcare safer—one legible prescription at a time.
