World Patient Safety Day

In May 2019, all 194 World Health Organization Member States endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be marked annually on September 17. It was established to enhance the global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in healthcare safety, and promote global actions to improve patient safety and reduce patient harm. 

World Patient Safety Day 2024 takes place on September 17 and this year’s theme is “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”, highlighting the critical importance of correct and timely diagnosis in ensuring patient safety and improving health outcomes. 

Diagnosing a patient correctly is essential for identifying their health problem and ensuring they receive the appropriate care and treatment. A diagnostic error occurs when there is a failure to provide an accurate and timely explanation of the patient's health issue. This can happen through delays, inaccuracies, or missed diagnoses, as well as through failures in communicating the diagnosis to the patient. 

Improving quality and safety is the foundation of our work – with and for – the people who receive care and those who deliver it. Everyone contributes to safer care. Together we must learn and act to create safer care and reduce all forms of healthcare harm.

Join Healthcare Excellence Canada, the World Health Organization and others around the globe on World Patient Safety Day and everyday to make care safer for all.

Learn more about World Patient Safety Day 

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