World Patient Safety Day

The 72nd World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA 72.6 ‘Global action on patient safety’ on 25 May 2019. The resolution recognizes patient safety as a global health priority and endorses the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be observed annually on 17 September. World Patient Safety Day calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety. Furthermore, the Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety. The theme of the very first World Patient Safety Day in 2019 was aimed at establishing the legacy of the day and highlighting the importance of prioritizing and addressing patient safety globally by all stakeholders.


FORUM: World Patient Safety Day 2020." Health worker safety: A priority for patient safety."

From 2020 and in the coming years, a new theme will be selected each year, raising awareness and promoting positive change around patient safety priority areas. No one should be harmed in health care. Yet thousands of patients across the world suffer avoidable harm, or are put at risk of injury, while receiving health care every single day.

  1. Caring for those who care: National Programmes for Occupational Health for Health Workers.

  2. Protection of health and safety of health workers: Checklist for healthcare facilities.

Slogan:

Safe health workers, Safe patients

Call for action:

Speak up for health worker safety!


CAMPAIGN:

Join hands in global solidarity for health workers and patients

Sign up to the Charter - Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety

This charter is presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the occasion of World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2020. WHO urges all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, international organizations, professional associations, labour unions, patient organizations, civil society organizations, academic and research institutions, health care organizations, health care facilities, the private sector, industry and all other stakeholders to support and endorse this charter by signing up to it and committing to take urgent and sustainable action to ensure health worker safety and patient safety. Below are the key action areas.

  1. Establish synergies between health worker safety and patient safety policies and strategies.

  2. Develop and implement national programmes for better occupational health and safety of health workers.

  3. Protect health workers from violence in the workplace.

  4. Improve mental health and psychological well-being of the health workforce.

  5. Protect health workers from physical and biological hazards.

Read the full text of Charter here

You can sign up below. We will acknowledge and add you to the list of organizations endorsing this Charter.


Sign up for World Patient Safety Day 2020-2021 Goals

Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety


On the occasion of World Patient Safety Day 2020, we invite you to sign up for an inspiring journey towards achieving safer care. Each year on 17 September, WHO would be proposing a set of ‘World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) Goals’ to facilitate action for improvement by health care facilities, organizations, providers and managers to focus on a certain number of improvement goals associated with the theme of World Patient Safety Day of that year.

So, along with marking this important day, focussed action on the goals for the coming year will contribute to improving specific aspects of patient safety at the point of care.

We are creating a platform where you can share stories, challenges and achievements and certainly can learn from colleagues across the world.

Whether you are a hospital, laboratory, single doctor clinic, nursing home, or work in ambulance services or primary care centre, we invite everyone to join us in this movement from the very first day. So let’s strengthen our resolve towards safer care TODAY!

This year, World Patient Safety Day is dedicated to health worker safety. In line with this, the Goals for WPSD 2020-21 are:

  • WPSD Goal 1: Prevent sharps injuries

  • WPSD Goal 2: Reduce work-related stress and burnout

  • WPSD Goal 3: Improve the use of personal protection equipment

  • WPSD Goal 4: Promote zero tolerance of violence against health workers

  • WPSD Goal 5: Report and analyze serious safety incidents

WPSD Goals 2020-2021.


Webinars: Join patients, colleagues, and members of Patients for Patient Safety Canada for a video celebrating this 2020 World Patient Safety Day theme announced by the World Health Organization. Their inspiring words are a call to action, insisting that healthcare worker safety is essential in keeping patients safe

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the huge challenges and risks health workers are facing globally.

Working in stressful environments makes health workers more prone to errors which can lead to patient harm.

Health worker safety is a priority for patient safety. Speak up for health worker safety!

Previous observances:

World Patient Safety Day 2019 - Patient safety: a global health priority