About the Campaign 

World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is a moment for the global health community to come together to raise public awareness, understanding and engagement globally of the need to work towards global solidarity and action by all to promote patient safety. 

2019 was the first year that we marked WPSD as the campaign is a result of the WHA7.6 Resolution ‘Global Action on Patient Safety’ passed on May 28, 2019 at the World Health Assembly. The passing of the resolution is a global commitment made by all WHO member states to recognize patient safety as a key health priority and agreeing to take action to reduce patient harm in health care settings.

Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 

Global observance of WPSD aims to:

• Raise awareness of patient safety issues globally
• Enhance global understanding on the central role of patient safety in achieving Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals
• Encourage development of systems and procedures for the elimination of all avoidable health care related harm to patients, and management of risks in health care 
• Encourage all governaments to commit to and support the implementation of strategies for ensuring patient safety, managing risks and fostering supportive, learning cultures  
•  Strengthen collaboration and partnerships at global, regional, national and local levels for implementing patient safety strategies and for improving safety of health care
• Highlight specific patient safety themes such as Medication Safety, Education and Training in Patient Safety, Reporting and learning systems, Patient Engagement 

As part of the WPSD, IAPO is calling on all our members and partners as well as various healthcare organizations, policy-makers, academia, institutions, industry and other stakeholders to advocate and promote all aspects of patient safety.  

“We want all patients, patient advocates and carers to commit to prioritize patient safety and  making healthcare safer worldwide!”  

We also want all governments to do the following:

• recognise patient safety as a health priority in health policy and programmes, making it a key component for strengthening healthcare systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage,
• establish systems to engage and empower patients’ families and communities in delivering safer healthcare
• mark World Patient Safety Day annually on 17 September to promote all aspect of patient safety.

We therefore invite you to join us in marking World Patient Safety Day on 17th September as we all believe that no one should be harmed while seeking care.