Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia
World Patient Safety Day, observed annually on September 17, was established in 2019 by the World Health Organization (WHO) following the adoption of Resolution WHA72.6 by the World Health Assembly. Patient safety refers to preventing and mitigating risks, errors and harm that patients may experience during healthcare delivery. The resolution comes in response to the alarmingly high rates of avoidable healthcare errors and patient harm around the world. The resolution highlighted the global importance of patient safety and called for actions to reduce harm in healthcare settings. The goal of World Patient Safety Day is to raise awareness of the importance of patient safety in healthcare systems around the world.
This year’s theme of World Patient Safety Day, under the slogan “Right, Safe!”, focuses on enhancing diagnostics for patient safety. On this day, we join patients and their families, healthcare professionals, leaders, policymakers and civil society in highlighting the crucial importance of accurate and timely diagnostics in promoting patient safety.
Diagnosis is fundamental to identifying a patient’s health condition, and an accurate diagnosis requires collaboration between the patient and the medical team. The diagnostic process is often complex and time-consuming, and mistakes can occur at any stage, often with serious consequences. A delayed, incorrect or missed diagnosis can prolong the illness and in some cases lead to disability or death.
Results from a global member state survey assessing implementation of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 show that only 47% of countries are addressing diagnostic safety. However, we are pleased to see that our member states are significantly more proactive in addressing diagnostic safety than other regions.
Understanding the diagnostic process is essential to reducing errors. This process consists of multiple iterative steps, including initial patient consultation, medical history taking and examination, diagnostic testing, discussion and communication of results, collaboration and coordination, final diagnosis and treatment plan, follow-up and re-evaluation, etc. Errors can occur at any stage of this process.
A range of solutions are available to address diagnostic errors. Policymakers and healthcare leaders should foster a positive work environment and ensure access to high-quality diagnostic tools. Healthcare professionals should be encouraged to continually improve their skills and address unconscious bias in their judgments. Furthermore, patients should be supported and empowered to be actively involved throughout the diagnostic journey.
As we mark World Patient Safety Day, let us all work together to reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient safety. Together, we can have a profound impact on the quality of care provided and ensure better health outcomes for all.