WHO Global Study – 2009
(on burden of harm to patients)
• Most evidence comes from developed countries and little
from developing countries
• 1.5 million patients are harmed and thousands are killed
every year in USA
• 70% of patients’ medication histories have errors (in some
countries)
• 28-56% of adverse effects are preventable
• 10% of patients in acute care settings in developed countries
experience adverse effects
• 1 in 4 patients in ICUs will acquire an infection infection