WHO Report: Patient Safety Progress On Track, Gaps Remain

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its inaugural Global Patient Safety Report, offering the first global insight into patient safety implementation and identifying key areas for enhancement. The report indicates that while the implementation of policies and interventions under the Global Patient Safety Action Plan (GPSAP) 2021–2030 is largely on track, progress against several core indicators has been limited.

The report found that only about one-third of countries have established national patient safety action plans and programs, despite the global recognition of patient safety as a priority. Conversely, over 70% of countries have made notable progress in developing occupational health and safety programs for healthcare workers.

While approximately 80% of countries have procedures in place for patient access to medical records, crucial for safety, significant concerns exist regarding patient engagement and funding. Only 11% of nations reported sufficient financial resources allocated to fully implement planned patient safety interventions.

"Unsafe care affects millions of patients each year; an estimated 1 in 10 patients will experience harm from adverse events whilst receiving healthcare," stated Dr. Rudi Eggers, Director of the Integrated Health Services Department at WHO. He emphasized that patient safety must be a fundamental component of universal health coverage.

The report assesses progress across over 100 Member States against the GPSAP's seven strategic objectives. These objectives cover policy development, organizational reliability, clinical process safety, patient and family engagement, health worker education and safety, information and research, and fostering partnerships. WHO will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to utilize the report's data to target interventions and strengthen global health systems.