London, UK & Beijing, China
A new prescribing skills partnership has been agreed between BPS Assessment Ltd (BPSA) and a Chinese training charity.
BPSA, the assessment and learning business of the British Pharmacological Society, and the Beijing Huatong Guokang Foundation (BHGF), a charity that supports Chinese organisations to organise overseas training, will be delivering a Prescribing Skills Workshop at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, on 16 August 2018. This will form part of the BHGF’s week-long Pharmacy Education Program in the UK.
The background to the workshop is the worldwide challenge of medication errors. The World Health Organization estimates the annual cost of medication errors to be over 42 billion USD, affecting every health system around the world. In the UK, the costs are estimated to be close to £100 million and 1,700 lives lost each year.
Among a number of areas covered by the workshop will be medication errors, adverse drug reactions, polypharmacy, and managing cost pressures. Delegates will sit a short online assessment to test their prescribing skills and receive certification. The workshop will be presented by BPS Assessment’s Medical Director, Professor Simon Maxwell MD PhD FRCP FRCPE FBPhS FHEA.
Ms Chen Ran, Chairwoman of Beijing Huatong Guokang Public Foundation and Director of the International Emergency Management Society Emergency Medical Committee (TEMC), said:
“This is a very timely collaboration given the great need for improved prescribing competency worldwide. Patients’ needs have become more complex and so have the prescribing decisions healthcare professionals face. An exchange of experience and knowledge between Chinese and UK healthcare leaders is to be greatly welcomed.”
Jonathan Brüün, Chief Executive of the British Pharmacological Society and Managing Director of BPS Assessment, said:
“We believe that by improving the knowledge and capabilities of prescribers we can make a significant contribution to reducing risk and improving patient safety. This workshop and its supporting online resources are our contribution to that aim.”
