[Improving drug safety in Germany: an alliance between the government and the medical profession].

According to a multitude of international studies the safety of general drug treatment practice is not up to standard. It has been demonstrated that about 50% of adverse drug reactions are avoidable and that their main cause are medication errors. Such errors have often been related to dosing and non-consideration of contraindications and the individual patient's risk profile. In order to resolve this unacceptable situation pharmacovigilance has to be strengthened. Pharmacovigilance in this context does not only imply the assessment and collection of adverse drug reactions, but also the communication of treatment risks to the medical community as well as to pharmacists and patients, and the development and implementation of intelligent electronic prescribing systems. The Federal Government of Germany in co-operation with the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association has decided on a bunch of about 40 single measures to enhance drug safety in this country. This project was issued in November 2007 by the Federal Ministry of Health. The Drug Commission will be responsible for the co-ordination of any future actions.