Dr Francis Addai, Head of Medical Services at FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, has emphasised the need for greater emphasis on patient education to improve safety in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He made this call during a panel discussion on the theme: “Safe Care for Life,” held in Accra to mark the World Patient Safety Day. According to Dr Addai, effective management of chronic diseases should go beyond prescribing medicines to include healthy lifestyles, regular screening, treatment adherence, and active patient participation in care.
Dr Addai noted that medication was only one component of NCD management, emphasising the need for healthy eating, physical activity, and other lifestyle modifications to achieve better health outcomes. He stressed that when it comes to chronic conditions, both medication and lifestyle modifications have to work together to give patients the best outcomes. Dr Addai also highlighted that patients needed to understand their treatment plans and take responsibility for achieving their health targets.
Dr Addai mentioned that health workers’ contribution to NCD care was about 30 to 40 per cent, while the remaining 60 to 70 per cent depended largely on patients’ commitment to managing their conditions. He noted that effective self-care could enable stable patients to manage much of their conditions at home, reducing unnecessary dependence on health facilities. This, he believes, would help alleviate the burden on the healthcare system.
Dr Addai cautioned patients against abandoning prescribed medicines for unverified herbal preparations and products marketed as cures for chronic diseases. He warned that patients could be harmed by products promoted with misleading claims or containing undisclosed pharmaceutical substances. Dr Addai urged patients to seek professional advice before replacing prescribed medicines with alternative preparations.
Dr Efua Commey, Director of Health Services, La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Health Directorate, emphasised that self-care was a continuous process that required patients to receive clear and practical information about their conditions. She urged health professionals to explain medicines in a language patients understood, including their purpose, dosage, possible side effects, and what to do when adverse reactions occurred.
Ms Eidman Aku Numadzi, a Registered Dietician at FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, highlighted that dietary advice should consider patients’ economic, social, and cultural circumstances. She encouraged patients to prioritise locally available and seasonal foods, which could be more affordable, and cautioned against adopting expensive diets promoted on social media without professional guidance.
The World Patient Safety Day is observed annually on September 17 to raise global awareness and promote action to reduce preventable harm in healthcare. This year’s theme: “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases,” highlights patient safety risks associated with the long-term management of conditions including cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.
Key points
- Dr Francis Addai calls for greater emphasis on patient education to improve safety in NCD management.
- Effective self-care could enable stable patients to manage much of their conditions at home.
- Dietary advice should consider patients’ economic, social, and cultural circumstances.
