World Patient Safety Day

World Patient Safety Day was created to raise global awareness about patient safety and mobilize action to prevent avoidable harm in healthcare.

Healthcare saves lives, but unsafe practices cause millions of preventable injuries and deaths each year. 

This day reminds us that “no one should be harmed while seeking care.”

Over 134 million adverse events occur annually in hospitals in low and middle-income countries.

These cause an estimated 2.6 million deaths every year. In high-income countries, 1 in 10 patients is harmed while receiving hospital care.

Children and newborns are especially vulnerable, with errors in diagnosis, medication, or treatment leading to long-term harm.

This year's theme focuses on Safe

care for every newborn and every child.

*Objectives*

1. Awareness – Highlight risks in newborn and paediatric care.

2. Mobilization – Encourage governments and organizations to adopt safer care practices.

3. Empowerment – Involve parents, caregivers, and even children in ensuring safer care.

4. Advocacy – Call for more research and stronger policies on child and newborn patient safety.

Broader Impact of Patient Safety includes the following:

• Improves trust in healthcare systems.

• Reduces preventable deaths and long-term harm.

• Strengthens health systems by embedding safety into culture and practice.

• Encourages transparency and learning from mistakes.

World Patient Safety Day is not just an annual event, it’s a movement for safer healthcare worldwide.

Whether you’re a policymaker, health worker, patient, or caregiver, you have a role to play in making care safe. 

Happy World Patient Safety Day!