World Patient Safety Day is a holiday observed every year on September 17th. It is designed to raise awareness about patient safety and to encourage healthcare providers, insurance companies, and organizations to take patient safety more seriously.

According to recent statistics, approximately one out of ten patients in the world is harmed while receiving care in a hospital. And nearly half of these “patient accidents” can be considered preventable. That’s why it’s important for everyone involved in patient care to observe this holiday.

This holiday gives professionals a chance to create a safer environment for their patients and gives a voice to the many people who rely on the medical care provided by their local hospital.

The History of World Patient Safety Day

World Patient Safety Day was established by the 72nd World Health Assembly in 2019. They created the holiday by passing Resolution WHA72.6. It was a day to enhance global understanding of patient safety and to work towards improving patient safety standards.

Every year, a new theme is released for this day. For example, in 2020, the theme was “Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety.” In 2021, the theme was “Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!” and in 2022, the theme was “Medication Safety.”

Some Important Facts About Patient Safety

Below are some facts about patient safety that everyone should be aware of. We think the following points are extremely important and hope they bring clarity not only to this holiday but to patient safety itself.

• Unsafe care is one of the ten leading causes of disability and death worldwide.
• Approximately 1 out of every 7 Canadian dollars is spent treating the effects of patient harm in hospitals.
• Hospitals that invest in patient safety are more likely to incur significant financial savings from year to year.
• Delayed or inaccurate diagnosis is one of the most common causes of patient harm.

Observing World Patient Safety Day

World Patient Safety Day is a holiday that all of us should observe. It’s important not just for healthcare providers but also for the rest of us who aren’t in charge of patients.

After all, eventually, we’re all going to be patients at some medical facility at some point in our lives, so the experience should be as safe as possible. We also encourage everyone to spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #WorldPatientSafetyDay on social media.