“Get it proper, make it protected!”: WHO highlights protected prognosis throughout international marketing campaign for affected person security

Recognizing the pressing want for a broad-based effort globally to cut back errors in medical prognosis, the World Well being Group (WHO) is looking on all stakeholders to “Get it proper, make it protected!” as a part of the World Affected person Security Day marketing campaign on 17 September. The theme ‘enhancing prognosis for affected person security’ was chosen in session with a variety of stakeholders – from sufferers to policy-makers – to focus on how everybody has a significant position to play in lowering the dangers and affect of errors in prognosis.

“The correct prognosis, on the proper time, is the premise of protected and efficient well being care. Against this, diagnostic errors can result in severe hurt, and even dying,” stated WHO Director-Common Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Decreasing this threat takes collaboration between well being employees and managers, policymakers and regulators, civil society and the non-public sector, and importantly, sufferers and their households.”

Annually, diagnostic errors account for an estimated 16% of preventable hurt in well being care, with great human and financial penalties. Information counsel that almost all adults will expertise not less than one diagnostic error of their lifetime, which can lead to extended unwell well being, elevated well being care prices, and even preventable dying.

Diagnostic error is when a prognosis is delayed, incorrect, missed, or miscommunicated and might happen at any stage of a affected person’s journey. Focused interventions by policy-makers, well being care leaders, well being employees, medical product regulators and producers, with the energetic engagement of sufferers, their households and civil society may also help cut back the danger of error.

Coverage-makers ought to guarantee applicable nationwide pointers, protocols and laws exist and are carried out, and crucial funds and sources are allotted. Well being facility and programme managers ought to create protected and conducive working environments, promote steady enchancment, and guarantee enough programs, requirements and processes are in place. Well being facility and programme managers also needs to be sure that diagnostic instruments and applied sciences are well-maintained, sharing consumer suggestions with the producer shortly to enhance programs.

On the particular person degree, sufferers and their households ought to proactively take part within the diagnostic course of by sharing their signs and full medical historical past, asking questions, elevating considerations and following up on take a look at outcomes. Well being employees ought to actively have interaction their sufferers whereas integrating excellence into each stage of the diagnostic course of.

WHO is growing a mannequin to help the implementation of diagnostic security interventions. On 10–12 September the WHO-convened World Patient Safety 2024 Global Consultation introduced collectively sufferers, affected person advocates, well being employees, well being care facility managers, policy-makers, diagnostic security consultants, and educational and analysis establishments to supply enter on the implementation mannequin. Individuals additionally mentioned the progress and challenges in implementing the World Affected person Security Motion Plan (GPSAP) 2021–2030.  

The GPSAP serves as an motion framework for stakeholders to work in direction of the purpose of protected and high-quality well being look after all sufferers. The just lately printed Global Patient Safety Report 2024 highlighted progress made by many international locations in direction of the GPSAP targets, but additionally underscored the massive scope for additional enchancment. The implementation mannequin for enhancing diagnostic security will probably be launched in 2025 as one of many vary of WHO instruments and sensible sources to assist stakeholders drive progress in direction of the targets set within the GPSAP.

Notice to the editor

World Affected person Security Day was established in 2019 to advertise measures wanted to enhance affected person security globally. Annually a brand new theme is chosen to focus on a precedence space. Extra details about 2024 World Patient Safety Day Campaign might be discovered on the WHO web site.