World Patient Safety Day 2026

Guide for Patient Organisations

This guide was tailored to support patient organisations in marking World Patient Safety Day 2026 – join us and be part of the global movement for safer care for all!
 

Theme: Safe care for noncommunicable diseases

Slogan: 'Safe care for life!'

Date: 17 September 2026

 

Quick Overview

World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is an official WHO campaign for all stakeholders in the healthcare system to work together to improve patient safety. It is observed annually on 17 September to enhance global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in healthcare safety, and promote global action to prevent and reduce avoidable harm in healthcare.   

IAPO has historically contributed to the WPSD campaign. Learn more about the history and significance of World Patient Safety Day in this handbook.

2026 Theme 

With the slogan 'Safe care for life!', World Patient Safety Day 2026 is focusing on addressing one of the major health concerns affecting billions of people and accounting for 74% of deaths worldwide: noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

WHO's WPSD 2026 campaign page provides you with all key information to guide your advocacy efforts throughout the year, including:

 

 

Global Webinar on 16 September

IAPO and NCD Alliance's Our Views, Our Voices initiative hosted an interactive webinar on Wednesday, 16 September, to mark World Patient Safety Day 2026, titled “Partners in Safe Care: Lived Experience and Collective Action for Safety in Noncommunicable Diseases”.

This 90-minute interactive session brought together a distinguished panel of experts, including the World Health Organization, World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) Working Party on Quality and Safety, Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, and the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030, to explore how we can work together to make care safer for everyone living with NCDs. 

Dr Blerta Maliqi, Head of the Patient Safety and Quality of Care Unit (World Health Organization, HQ), delivered the opening address, and Dr Ratna Devi, IAPO board member, served as the session moderator.    

Rewatch the webinar here

 

WHO campaign materials for your organisation

You can access all the key messages, resources, and campaign materials on the WHO WPSD pages here, with resources available in the 6 UN languages, including: 

  • World Patient Safety Day 2026 logos
  • Posters tailored for different audiences (editable files included)
  • Zoom backgrounds & screensavers
  • Social media assets
  • This year's WPSD campaign video

 

Social Media Captions Ready to Use

Graphics and images to go alongside these captions are available to download as part of the official campaign materials here.

Below, we provide a few captions for you to use or adapt to your condition and local context.

Sample post 1:

Safe care matters for people living with noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, obesity, and more.

  • Know your condition
  • Take part in care decisions
  • Track your care
  • Speak up

#WorldPatientSafetyDay #PatientSafety #NCDs   

Sample post 2:

Safety is in the details, especially in long-term care. Keep track, stay involved and make your voice heard.

#WorldPatientSafetyDay #PatientSafety #NCDs 

Sample post 3: 

Safe care is key for people living with noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, obesity, and more, along the entire care journey. Health workers can help prevent harm through timely, coordinated and people-centred care.

#WorldPatientSafetyDay #PatientSafety #NCDs 

 

Action Ideas for Your Organisation

Simple Actions (1-2 hours):

  • Share WHO campaign materials on social media
  • Post lived experience testimonials from people living with NCDs
  • Create a blog post about the importance of safe care
  • Share safety tips for those living with NCDs

Medium Engagement (Half day):

  • Organise a social media campaign to run throughout the week
  • Create educational content around the topic, sharing how everyone from people with lived experience, to healthcare workers and civil society can make a difference 
  • Partner with another patient organisation for joint messaging

High Impact (Full day or more):

  • Organise a community event focused on spreading awareness of safe care
  • Host a virtual discussion with a partner or another patient organisation on the importance of engaging people with lived experience in the design and delivery of NCD services and in their own care
  • Coordinate monument illuminations in orange

 

Need Support?

WHO Patient Safety Team: patientsafety@who.int IAPO Support: antonia@iapo.org.uk  

Remember  

Your voice as a patient organisation is powerful! By advocating for everyone living with NCDs, you're helping ensure that no one is harmed while receiving care for NCDs.