Kampala — THE International Alliance of Patients' Organisations (IAPO) has launched an advocacy toolkit for patient groups.

The kit contains background information, facts and figures on key patient safety issues identified by IAPO's 200 patient members as of immediate concern to them.

According to a statement from IAPO, the main safety issues addressed in the kit include medical error, taking medicines correctly, hospital-acquired infections, quality and safety of medicines and re-use of single-use medical devices.

Other areas of concern are injection safety, maternal and child health and participation in clinical trials.

"The Toolkit also provides detailed advice and tips on how to advocate and build partnerships to achieve patient safety goals and on communicating messages to patients and other health stakeholders," the statement read. "This is the first multi-issue resource for patient groups, providing the means for patients and patients' organisations to engage in the provision of healthcare and contribute to a quality and safe healthcare system, and a reduction in harm to patients."

The toolkit, "Addressing Global Patient Safety Issues: An Advocacy Toolkit for Patients' Organisations", was launched during a regional meeting of patient groups in Uganda last week on Monday.