Today is the first #WorldPatientSafetyDay @WHO

WHO calls for urgent action to reduce patient harm in healthcare. 

​13 September 2019: Millions of patients are harmed each year due to unsafe health care worldwide resulting in 2.6 million deaths annually in low-and middle-income countries alone.  Most of these deaths are avoidable. The personal, social and economic impact of patient harm leads to losses of trillions of US dollars worldwide. The World Health Organization is focusing global attention on the issue of patient safety and launching a campaign in solidarity with patients on the very first World Patient Safety Day on 17 September.

On the very first World Patient Safety Day WHO is prioritizing patient safety as a global health priority and urging patients, healthcare workers, policy makers and health care industry to “Speak up for patient safety!”. 

​17 September was established as World Patient Safety Day by the 72nd World Health Assembly in May 2019. More information about WHO’s campaign can be accessed at https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2019