"Raise the voice of patients!"

 

World Patient Safety Day 2023 will be celebrated on 17 September under the theme "Engaging Patients in Patient Safety" in recognition of the crucial role that patients, families, and carers play in making healthcare safe. 

Evidence shows that when patients are treated as partners in their care, significant benefits in safety, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes are achieved. By becoming active members of the healthcare team, patients can contribute to the safety of their care and the safety of the healthcare system as a whole.

Under the slogan "Raise the voice of patients!" WHO calls on all stakeholders to take the necessary steps to ensure that patients are involved in the development of safety strategies and are active partners in their own care. This can only be achieved by providing platforms and opportunities for diverse patients, families, and communities to express their voices, concerns, expectations, and preferences to improve safety, patient-centredness, reliability, and equity.

Patient and family engagement was embedded in Resolution WHA72.6 - Global Action for Patient Safety and the Global Action Plan for Patient Safety 2021-2030 as key strategies to move towards eliminating avoidable harm in health.

World Patient Safety Day is one of the WHO's global health days. It was established in 2019 by the 72nd World Health Assembly through the adoption of Resolution WHA72.6 - Global Action for Patient Safety. It aims to raise public awareness and participation and improve global understanding and action by Member States to improve patient safety and reduce patient harm.

                       The goals of World Patient Safety Day 2023 are as follows

To raise global awareness of the need to actively engage patients, their families, and carers in all settings and at all levels of health care to improve patient safety.
Engaging policymakers, healthcare leaders, healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and other stakeholders for patient safety.
Empowering patients and families to take an active role in their own care and in improving healthcare safety.
Promote patient and family engagement aligned with the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030.
Working together to make healthcare safer.