World Patient Safety Day 2023- Theme, Background & WHO

Every year September 17 is observed as World Patient Safety Day. The day is celebrated so as to increase public awareness , enhance global understanding, promote  global solidarity and action by governments to promote patient safety.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),the day aims to influence stakeholders including patients, families, policy makers, health care leaders, health workers and patient organisations to work collaboratively  to design a health care policy that reflects the true needs and preferences of patients.

What is Patient Safety?

According to the World Health Organisation patient safety means that all the individuals shall have access to quality medical services.

It includes access to trained health professionals like doctors and paramedics , access to affordable quality medicine. 

It also emphasises the importance of hygiene for patient safety and the prevention of health care-associated infections, and for reducing antimicrobial resistance.

Background to the World Safety Day 

To emphasise the importance of adequate patient safety the WHO in 2019 passed a resolution at its 72nd World Health Assembly to observe September 17 as World Patient Safety Day.

The first Patient Safety day was observed in 2019.

Theme of the World Patient Safety Day 2023

The theme of the World Patient Safety Day 2023 is “Engaging patients for patient safety”.

World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO came into being on 7 April 1948 as a specialised agency of the United Nations.

It is a premier global body which leads the global efforts to achieve better health for all.

Members : 194 countries

Director General of WHO : Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (since May 2017).

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland.

The foundation day of the WHO ,April 7, is observed as the World Health Day.