Page 42 - npqh NATIONAL POLICY FOR QUALITY IN HEALTHCARE : Bridging Silos, Accelerating Improvements 2022-2026

National Policy for Quality in Healthcare
Bridging Silos, Accelerating Improvements

Medication Error Reporting System (MERS) Reducing Harm
Year Introduced: 2007

» Medication Error Reporting Systems (MERS) was strengthened to include verification
of medication error reports at the state level for close monitoring.
» Medication Without Harm initiative was launched in 2017 with the aim of reducing
severe avoidable medication related harm by 50% in the next five years. The
campaigns and programs were carried out at the states and facilities in 2018.
» In 2018, Medication Safety Self-Assessment Checklist with criteria for medication
safety principles and practices evaluation had been established.
» The reviewed and published guidelines in 2019 and 2020 included Guideline on
Medication Error Reporting System (2019), Dilution Guideline for Injectable Drug
-Part 1 -Antibiotics (2020) and Guideline on Safe use of High Alert Medications-
2nd edition (2020). In addition, Medication Safety Newsletter was rebranded to
Medication Safety Alert Publication.
Safe Surgery Saves Lives Programme (SSSL) Reducing Harm
Year Introduced: 2009

» Safe Surgery Save Lives Programme was introduced with the main aim of improving

surgical safety such as prevention of wrong surgery and unintended retained surgical
item.
» The main element of this programme is the use of Peri-Operative Check List which

consist of 4-page documents which are – Pre-Operative Check List, Operating Team
Check List, Swab & Instrument Count Form and Pre-Discharge Check List.
» It is implemented nation-wide and become one of the Malaysian Patient Safety Goals.

It is also part of Patient Safety Training for House Officers and part of the Masters
Training in Surgery. Safe Surgery Saves Lives 2.0 has been implemented since 2019.
Antimicrobial Resistance Containment Programme Reducing Harm
Year Introduced: 2014

» Launch of Malaysia Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (MyAP-AMR) 2017-2021.
» One Health Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance Manual involving
human and animal health was developed in 2019
» MOH-WHO: Tricycle Project - Innovative Approach to Monitor Antimicrobial
Resistance in Malaysia (Study budget: MYR350,000).
» Annual Antimicrobial Resistance Seminar is held in conjunction with World
Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)

c) System Environment

National Indicator Approach (NIA) System Environment
Year Introduced: 1985

» Monitoring a set of quality indicators known as National Indicator Approach (NIA) to

address quality issues prioritise by programme
»
As of 2021, a total of 51 NIA is monitored by 10 programmes/divisions nationally.

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