Ethiopia Marks World Patient Safety Day 2024, Calls for Improved Diagnostic Safety

Addis Ababa, September 18, 2024 – Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and key health sector stakeholders, marked World Patient Safety Day 2024 at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College with the theme, “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety: Get it Right, Make it Safe!”

The two-day event, held from September 17-18, brought together a diverse range of attendees, including senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and regional health bureaus, WHO, USAID and other development partners as well as hospital executives, policymakers, patient advocates, healthcare professionals, and private sector representatives.

The event focused on the importance of diagnostic safety in the healthcare system and the collaborative effort to strengthen diagnostic systems. Discussions emphasized the need for improved accuracy and timely diagnosis to ensure patient safety.

In keynote addresses, senior officials from the Ministry of Health, WHO, and USAID-Ethiopia highlighted Ethiopia’s progress in patient safety initiatives and shared insights from global efforts to enhance safety in healthcare systems.

The Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 and the Global Patient Safety Report 2024 were central to the discussions. Additionally, Ethiopia’s achievement as the first country in the AFRO region to produce in-depth patient safety documents, and its inclusion among six countries participating in the Global Patient Safety Flagship Initiative, was recognized.

A major theme throughout the discussions was the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030, alongside the Global Patient Safety Report 2024, both of which outline strategies for improving safety across healthcare settings.

Presentations detailed Ethiopia’s diagnostic safety landscape, with experts shedding light on challenges and epidemiological findings. The midterm review of the Ethiopian National Quality Standards Survey (NQSS) was also unveiled.

The discussions showcased innovative approaches to improving diagnostic safety, including the Safe Care Align project, and explored ways to foster a culture of patient safety across healthcare institutions.

Scholars from various universities across Ethiopia presented their research work, focusing on diagnostics and patient safety, ranging from neonatal resuscitation practices to routine hemoglobin testing, pharmaceutical dispensing, and its effects on the quality of care.

One of the event’s key moments came when Yekatit-12 Hospital Medical College presented its “5 Rs Rescue Strategy,” aimed at enhancing preoperative risk assessments and ensuring tailored postoperative care for patients. This was followed by a commitment ceremony, where heads of the Regional Health Bureaus pledged to strengthen efforts to improve patient safety standards across Ethiopia.

In addition to the launch of the National Patient Safety Guideline, the event featured a candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing the commitment to safeguarding patient lives. Experts participated in panel discussions focusing on the barriers and facilitators to improving diagnostic safety, as well as the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses.

The event served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need to prioritize patient safety in Ethiopia’s healthcare system. Accurate and timely diagnosis was underscored as crucial in improving patient outcomes, with calls for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and adherence to global safety standards to bolster the country’s healthcare sector.