The  Thematic Innovation Ecosystem Group on Medicines optimisation is jointly chaired by Professor Mike Scott Director of the Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre in Northern Ireland (MOIC) member of the Northern Ireland Ecosystem, and Doctor Ligia Kornowska, Managing Director of the Hospital Polish Federation.

In March 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched their third global patient safety challenge namely Medication Without Harm. This aims to reduce the level of severe avoidable harm related to medication by 50% over 5 years globally. Globally the cost associated with medication errors has been estimated at $42 billion annually.

Under the WHO Strategic Framework of the Global Patient Safety Challenge, four key domains have been identified, namely:  patients and the public, health care professionals behaviour, medicines and systems and practices of medication use. In addition there are three key action areas which must be addressed namely:

• Polypharmacy
• Transitions of Care
• Medication Safety in high risk situations

The group will target these areas including the role of digital enablement.