Health professionals urge enhanced security measures to ensure patient well-being
The World Patient Safety Day 2025 was launched in Ha Noi on September 17, with a focus on promoting safety and quality in newborn and child healthcare. The event, organised by the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasised the importance of ensuring safe care for every newborn and every child.
Dr Jennifer Horton, WHO Deputy Representative in Việt Nam, praised Việt Nam for its achievements in improving patient safety for all ages. She called for a national patient safety programme to be established, and suggested implementing the Ministry of Health's guidelines on patient safety. Dr Horton also recommended standardising the system for reporting patient incidents.
Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn affirmed the healthcare sector's focus on patient safety as a key pillar in quality management, particularly in obstetrics and paediatrics. Thuấn emphasized that patient safety, especially for infants and young children, is a measure of both professional quality and social civilization.
International reports indicate that more than one in 10 patients experience a medical incident. In low- and middle-income countries, an estimated 134 million hospital incidents occur each year, causing about 2.6 million deaths, half of which are preventable. Unsafe healthcare consumes a significant proportion of health spending, estimated at 12-15% of total health spending, equivalent to US$1.4 to $1.6 trillion per year.
Thuấn proposed more priorities in building child-centred safety standards, continuous safety skills training, and the application of digital applications to minimize risks. He also pledged to strengthen the monitoring and incident reporting system, promote resources for digital transformation, expand cooperation with WHO and development partners, and link safety targets with national programs on mothers and children, nutrition, immunization, and disease prevention.
The meeting emphasised the specific needs of children, families, and caregivers in relation to patient safety. Dr Horton suggested enhancing patient safety education for healthcare workers. Thuấn also suggested medical facilities establish a system to monitor, report, and analyze safety incidents for paediatrics, unify the entire hospital, and connect all levels of medical examination and treatment.
In addition, Dr Horton proposed raising public awareness about safe medicine use and including patient representatives on hospital boards. She urged the establishment of a national patient safety programme to drive improvements in paediatric and newborn care safety and raise global awareness of safety risks in these areas.
The theme for this year's World Patient Safety Day is 'Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child', highlighting the importance of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of newborns and children in healthcare settings. The event aims to bring together stakeholders from across the globe to collaborate and share best practices in ensuring safe care for every newborn and every child.
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