There is an urgent need to educate senior citizens about the proper use of drugs to minimise risks associated with taking unnecessary medication, Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly Franco Mercieca said this morning.

He delivered the opening speech during a national conference for health care professionals called Improving Medication Use in Older Persons organised by the Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health and Older Persons.

While modern medication contributed to higher life expectancies and significantly improved health and well being, their misuse could be detrimental, he said.

Medications that manage high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol all contributed significantly towards the reduction of fatal cardiovascular events and debilitating conditions such as stroke. However, medications could also contribute to disability following improper use.

To minimise risks there was an urgent need to educate senior citizens about the proper use of drugs.

"Learning programmes in this respect should aim to improve the health literacy levels of older persons. Successful implementation of such an initiative has the potential to inform senior citizens on better usage of medicine in later life which would, in turn, lead them to improved levels of successful ageing.

However, another positive effect would surely be on educating older persons of the negative impact of hoarding medicines, which may contribute to soaring financial costs, and in some cases, even out-of-stock medication," he said.

Healthcare professionals also needed to receive the appropriate training to keep abreast with the continued advancement of prescription practices, and the adverse effects that may result, he said.