Working Together for Safer Healthcare Worldwide
The Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 provides a strategic framework for countries to develop their national patient safety action plans and outlines the way forward for countries and key stakeholders to implement patient safety strategies at all levels. The Action Plan was developed through extensive consultation with all 194 WHO Member States and international experts.
Background and Context
Patient safety is a fundamental principle of healthcare and a critical component of quality healthcare delivery. Unsafe healthcare is a serious global public health problem affecting patients, health workers, healthcare systems, and societies. The WHO estimates that millions of patients are harmed each year due to unsafe care, resulting in significant human suffering and economic costs.
The World Health Assembly recognized the need for global action on patient safety and adopted resolution WHA72.6 on "Global action on patient safety" in May 2019. This resolution requested the Director-General to develop a global patient safety action plan in consultation with Member States. In response, WHO developed this comprehensive ten-year framework to advance patient safety worldwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the critical importance of patient safety and health worker safety, demonstrating how health systems can be overwhelmed and how lessons can be learned from crisis management to improve patient safety for the future.
Vision and Goals
The vision of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan is a world in which the progression of human health is promoted by quality healthcare services that are safe, accessible, and people-centered.
The mission is to guide and support Member States in the development and implementation of national patient safety policies and strategies to improve the safety of healthcare.
Strategic Goals
- Reduce avoidable harm in healthcare
- Improve patient safety culture
- Ensure global coordination, collaboration, and governance
- Optimize medication safety
- Reduce healthcare-associated infections
- Improve the safety of clinical procedures
- Ensure safe healthcare during emergencies
Strategic Objectives
The Action Plan includes eight strategic objectives, each with clear actions to be taken by Member States, WHO, and international partners to achieve safer healthcare.
Objective 1: Leadership and Governance
Establish strong patient safety governance structures at national and organizational levels to provide strategic direction, coordination, and accountability for patient safety initiatives.
Objective 2: Data and Information
Develop sustainable national systems for collecting and analyzing patient safety data to identify threats, monitor progress, and inform improvement strategies.
Objective 3: Skills, Knowledge, and Learning
Ensure that healthcare professionals have the necessary competencies in patient safety through education, training, and continuing professional development.
Objective 4: Patient and Community Engagement
Promote active involvement of patients, families, and communities in their own healthcare and in co-designing safer healthcare systems.
Objective 5: Research and Innovation
Support patient safety research, innovation, and implementation science to develop, evaluate, and scale up effective solutions.
Objective 6: Quality and Safety of Medicines
Ensure the safety and quality of medicines throughout their life cycle from procurement to appropriate use and monitoring of adverse effects.
Objective 7: Infection Prevention and Control
Strengthen infection prevention and control programmes to prevent healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.
Objective 8: Safe Clinical Practices
Implement standardized safe clinical practices and procedures to prevent harm from medical errors and adverse events.
Implementation Framework
The successful implementation of this Action Plan requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders in healthcare, including governments, healthcare providers, professional bodies, patients, and international organizations. The implementation framework outlines key approaches for advancing the Action Plan at global, regional, and national levels.
National Implementation
Member States are encouraged to develop and implement comprehensive national patient safety policies and strategies aligned with this global framework, adapted to their specific contexts and needs. This may include:
- Establishing national patient safety bodies or committees
- Developing national patient safety policies and legislation
- Investing in patient safety infrastructure and resources
- Monitoring and reporting on patient safety indicators
- Implementing patient safety improvement programs
Monitoring and Evaluation
A framework for monitoring progress and evaluating the impact of patient safety initiatives at global, regional, and national levels will be established. This includes the development of indicators to measure progress towards the strategic objectives and targets.
Global Coordination
WHO will provide leadership and coordination in implementing the Action Plan at the global level, working in collaboration with regional offices, Member States, and other stakeholders. This includes the establishment of global partnerships to mobilize resources and technical expertise.
Key Resources
The implementation of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan is supported by various WHO tools, guidelines, and resources developed to assist countries in their patient safety initiatives:
- WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide
- WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
- WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care
- Patient Safety Implementation Guide
- WHO Patient Safety Flagship Initiatives
- Global Patient Safety Reports
Global Patient Safety Days
The establishment of World Patient Safety Day, observed annually on September 17th, provides an important platform for raising awareness and promoting global solidarity and action on patient safety. Each year focuses on a specific patient safety theme aligned with the priorities of the Action Plan.
Join the Global Movement for Patient Safety
Together, we can build safer healthcare systems worldwide. Learn more about patient safety and discover how you can contribute to this important global initiative.
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