Challenges for Drug Safety: An Updated Review.

Abstract

Background: Technological innovations have become increasingly essential in healthcare, with a significant focus on improving drug safety. However, challenges persist in areas such as adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug interactions, medication errors, drug misuse, and counterfeit medications. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the global rise of drug abuse and misuse require targeted solutions. While technology plays a pivotal role in mitigating these issues, various barriers remain to the adoption and integration of technological solutions in healthcare settings, especially in drug safety and pharmacovigilance.

Aim: This review aims to explore the challenges associated with integrating technology into drug safety, focusing on pharmacovigilance, medication error detection, drug misuse prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. It also evaluates the barriers to adopting technological solutions in drug safety management and drug development.

Methods: The review synthesizes current research on the role of technology in addressing drug-related challenges, including the use of electronic health records (EHRs), mobile health applications, machine learning, blockchain, decision-support systems, and prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). It evaluates the benefits, limitations, and challenges of these technologies, particularly in drug safety and pharmacovigilance.

Results: The review highlights the potential of technology in reducing medication errors, preventing drug misuse, improving pharmacovigilance, and combating antimicrobial resistance. However, significant barriers to implementation include data integration issues, lack of expertise, privacy concerns, interoperability, and resource constraints. The review also discusses challenges in drug development, including data management, regulatory hurdles, and computational limitations.

Conclusion: Despite the promise of technological solutions in improving drug safety, addressing the challenges of data quality, integration, system interoperability, and privacy is critical for realizing their full potential. Collaborative efforts, regulatory alignment, and further investment in infrastructure and research are essential for overcoming these barriers.