World Patient Safety Day
World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on September 17 with the aim to educate the world and raise awareness about the safety of patients.
It is one of 11 officially recognized global public health campaigns and also aims to call on all countries and global partners to unite in reducing patient harm and ensuring their safety.
On this day, the world comes together in solidarity to play their respective roles in the healthcare system to build trust and increase the efficiency of the system.
Theme of World Patient Safety Day 2025
Every year, World Patient Safety Day is celebrated with a theme and theme for 2025 is Safe care for every newborn and every child with the slogan “Patient safety from the start!”.
History of World Patient Safety Day
One of the most important concerns of the health care field was patient safety as the systems started getting complicated and the tiniest of mistakes could cause risk a patient's life.
This is a serious problem across the world especially in low and middle income countries where every year 134 million such events cause over 2.6 million deaths.
That being said, even in countries where the economy is significantly better, one in ten patients also experience compromised care from the healthcare industry.
WHO or the World Health Organization ensured to make patient safety a priority across the globe. During the 72nd World Health Assembly in May 2019. resolution WHA 72.6 was passed called “Global action on patient safety”.
That is how World Patient Safety Day was officially created, and initially the campaign was created on efforts such as including the Global Ministerial Summits on Patient Safety starting in 2016 alongside the support of leaders across the globe.
How to observe World Patient Safety Day
The best way to observe World Patient Safety Day is to raise awareness and actively promote safety measurements and practices in healthcare.
You can do your part by educating yourself about the rights of patients, sharing accurate information and encouraging open communication between patients and the healthcare system.
Hospitals and clinics can host discussions, training sessions, or workshops to highlight ways to reduce errors and improve care quality.
On an individual level, patients can observe the day by staying informed about their treatments, asking questions when in doubt, and making sure they or their loved ones follow medical instructions properly.
The day is not only about healthcare professionals but also about empowering patients and communities to be active participants in their own safety.
