14/10/2026
AN OPEN LETTER TO LIFE CARE HOSPITAL
Dear LIFE CARE Hospital Sierra Leone,
A prescription is not just a piece of paper. It is an important medical document that guides treatment, supports safe dispensing, and helps prevent medication errors.
A prescription should be clear, legible, and unambiguous. The medication name, strength, dosage, route of administration, and other relevant instructions must be clearly stated. Where possible, the prescriber’s contact information should also be available to facilitate clarification when necessary.
Unfortunately, the prescription presented does not meet these basic expectations.
As a pharmacist, I have a professional responsibility to protect my patients’ health and well-being. I cannot afford to guess what a prescriber has written, nor should I be expected to interpret unclear instructions at the risk of compromising patient safety. When something is unclear or raises concerns, I must have the opportunity to contact the prescriber for clarification before dispensing the medication.
Patient safety must always come first.
Furthermore, patients should have the freedom to purchase their prescribed medications from any registered pharmacy outlet of their choice, provided the pharmacy is authorized and able to dispense the medication safely. Access to a prescription should not be unnecessarily restricted to the facility where it was issued.
Let us prioritize professionalism, collaboration among healthcare professionals, and, above all, the safety and well-being of our patients.
Pharm Momorie