September 17 marks World Patient Safety Day, an annual World Health Organization initiative aimed at reducing preventable harm in health care.
This year’s theme is “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases,” with the slogan “Safe care for life!” The focus is on people living with long-term conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, who often have repeated contact with health systems over many years.
WHO says patient safety risks can occur at every stage of care — from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, medication management and long-term follow-up. Globally, about one in 10 patients experiences harm while receiving health care, and around half of that harm is considered preventable.
The United Nations also highlighted several simple steps patients can take to help improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce mistakes:
- Share your full medical history.
- Ask questions if something is unclear.
- Follow up on test and laboratory results.
- Keep track of appointments, medications and treatments.
- Seek a second opinion when necessary.
WHO emphasizes that patients should be active partners in their own care and that stronger communication between patients and health professionals can help reduce avoidable harm.
World Patient Safety Day has been observed every September 17 since 2019, when it was established by the World Health Assembly to promote safer health care worldwide.
Sources: World Health Organization; United Nations
By NJ RADAR Team