WHO Director-General's opening remarks at World Patient Safety Day 2023 - WHO Global Conference – 12 September 2023

“Engaging patients for patient safety”

https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-world-patient-safety-day-2023---who-global-conference---12-september-2023

12 September 2023

Sir Liam Donaldson,

Distinguished guests, dear colleagues and friends,

Good morning and thank you all for joining us.

First, I would like to thank Sir Liam for his tireless work as WHO envoy for patient safety. Thank you, Sir Liam, for your commitment over so many years to improving patient safety around the world.

I would also like to thank my friend Jeremy Hunt for his video message, and for his continued commitment to patient safety, as Minister of Health, Foreign Secretary and now as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

As you know, the theme for World Patient Safety Day this year is "Engaging patients for patient safety”, with a call for action to “Elevate the voice of patients”.

This theme emphasizes a fundamental truth: that safe health care is a partnership, in which everybody has a role to play, and most importantly patients themselves.

Traditionally, and still even today, doctors have made decisions without consulting patients or their families.

WHO supports a patient-centred model that engages patients in their own care.

Patient engagement means much more than simply informed consent.

It means shared decision-making based on the patient's preferences, expectations, and values.

And it means involving patients in the planning, design, and evaluation of health services, promoting patient education and self-care, and incorporating patient feedback to improve the safety and quality of care.

That includes using digital technologies to empower people to participate more actively in managing their own health.

Evidence shows that the perspectives that patients and their families bring leads to better care, better patient experiences, and better outcomes.

The Global Patient Safety Action Plan for 2021 to 2030, adopted by the World Health Assembly last year, clearly articulates the strategic direction and strategies to empower patients and families to support safer care.

This global conference is a unique platform to learn how governments, professional and patient organizations and advocates are making change.

WHO is working with countries and partners to strengthen and expand the Patients for Patient Safety Networks, build capacities of patient safety advocates, engage with patient organizations, develop tools for patient engagement, and to build a collection of patient stories.

The Patient Safety Rights Charter, which will be developed during the conference, will support countries to institutionalize the rights of patients for safer health care.

Let me leave

you with four priorities:

First, we must invest in training and education to equip health and care workers with the skills to foster patient and family engagement.

Second, we must advocate with governments and health care providers for policies and strategies that prioritize patient safety and patient engagement.

Third, we must engage patient representatives in the development of global strategies, initiatives, and technical guidance.

And fourth, we must overcome the barriers that hinder patient engagement, including language, cultural differences, or system complexities.

Thank you all for your commitment to patient safety and patient engagement.

This is a collective responsibility.

It requires us to work hand-in-hand with patients, families, and communities, so that every person receives the safe, dignified, and compassionate care they deserve.

I look forward to World Patient Safety Day on the 17^th of September, when we will light up the world with orange, to show global solidarity and to emphasize that everyone has a role to play in patient safety.

I thank you.

More about WHO Global Conference:

https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2023/09/12/default-calendar/who-global-conference--engaging-patients-for-patient-safety

More about Patient Safety:

https://www.who.int/health-topics/patient-safety#tab=tab_1

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