Patient safety from the start: how parents and pharmacists can work together.
On September 17, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Patient Safety Day with the motto “Patient safety from the start."This year's campaign draws attention to a sensitive issue: the safety of children, especially newborns and those up to nine years of age. They are not "miniature adults," but patients who require specific care according to their development, weight, clinical condition, and even the way they communicate.
A single medication error, a diagnostic failure, or a delay in recognizing signs of worsening can leave lifelong scars on a child. Therefore, the WHO emphasizes that safety must be a priority in all healthcare settings: hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, but also in pharmacies and in the daily lives of families.
The role of parents in their children's safety.
For parents, care begins with simple actions. Asking if the prescribed medication is appropriate for the child's age and weight, confirming the correct method of administration, checking for possible interactions with other medications or foods—all of this helps reduce risks.
It's common for parents to have questions about dosage or potential side effects during treatment amidst the daily rush. At times like these, consulting a pharmacist can make all the difference. This professional is prepared to guide, clarify, and offer reliable information, helping parents feel more confident and ensuring children receive the protection they need.
The pharmacist as a link of trust.
O pharmaceutical The doctor is often the first healthcare professional accessible to the family. They can identify self-medication errors, correct incorrectly prescribed doses, warn about potential adverse reactions, and even recognize signs that something is wrong, guiding the family to seek medical attention when necessary.
More than just a dispenser of medication, the pharmacist acts as... safety guide. Every correct piece of guidance contributes to reducing risks and strengthening parents' trust in the healthcare system. And when this relationship of trust is consolidated, adherence to treatment improves and avoidable complications become less frequent.
The importance of pharmacovigilance.
But to perform this role with excellence, it is essential that pharmacists always stay up-to-date. pharmacovigilance Drug administration — the science dedicated to monitoring, identifying, evaluating, and preventing adverse drug effects — is a constantly evolving field. New drugs are entering the market, little-known interactions are being studied, and safety alerts are issued by regulatory agencies.
Participating in courses like the course Regulatory Affairs Practitioner at LegalPharma AcademyReading official bulletins, following updates from Anvisa and other health authorities, and registering and reporting suspected adverse reactions are practices that place pharmacists at the forefront of patient safety. Each notification made is a valuable contribution to protecting not only a child, but the entire community.
Security is a shared responsibility.
Ensuring that children receive safe and adequate care is not the task of a single person or institution. It is a... shared responsibility: from the health system, from the professionals, and also from the families.
Attentive parents who ask questions and seek guidance, along with committed and up-to-date pharmacists, form a powerful duo in preventing errors and protecting children's health.
In this World Patient Safety DayThe WHO's message is clear: safety from the start. May this call inspire every parent and pharmacy professional to remember that, when it comes to children, no precaution is too small and no question is irrelevant.
