The Federal Government announced on Monday the development of the National Policy and Implementation Strategy on Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality, aiming to enhance the safety of medical procedures and improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery.
This significant announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Kachollom Daju, during a press briefing commemorating World Patient Safety Day.
Aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, this policy addresses the critical theme of “Engaging patients for patient safety” for this year’s World Patient Safety Day. It recognizes the vital role patients, families, and caregivers play in ensuring the safety of healthcare.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that involving patients as partners in their care leads to substantial gains in safety, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes.
Daju underscored the importance of patient safety within the healthcare system, stressing the development of the first-ever National Policy and Implementation Strategy on Patient Safety and Care Quality.
The comprehensive National Patient Safety and Care Quality Policy focuses on various aspects, including enhancing patient and family engagement in healthcare, ensuring medication safety, promoting surgical safety, improving infection prevention and control, and ensuring the safety of all medical procedures. Daju expressed the hope that healthcare facilities at all levels will adopt and implement this policy.
Patient safety is fundamentally about preventing errors and minimizing harm during healthcare provision, encompassing areas such as surgical procedures, medication administration, and diagnostic accuracy.
Daju emphasized that safeguarding patients is of utmost importance
Empowering patients to actively participate in their healthcare teams is highlighted as a crucial avenue to enhance both their care and the entire healthcare system. Research supports the positive correlation between patient participation in their care and overall health outcomes.
Under the theme “Elevate the voice of patients,” WHO calls upon stakeholders to involve patients in policy formulation, representation in governance structures, co-designing safety strategies, and making them active partners in their own care.
The government’s commitment to providing safer and higher-quality health services is seen as a means to strengthen the healthcare system and build trust among citizens.
Additionally, the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, emphasized the need for stakeholders to take action to involve patients in policy formulation, representation in governance structures, and co-designing safety strategies. This involvement can be achieved by creating platforms and opportunities for patients, families, and communities to express their concerns, expectations, and preferences, ultimately advancing safety, patient-centered care, trustworthiness, and equity.
The WHO’s data highlights the global issue of patient harm in healthcare, with one in every 10 patients harmed and over three million deaths annually due to unsafe care.
Low-to-middle income countries are particularly affected, with up to four in 100 people dying from unsafe care. Notably, more than 50% of this harm is preventable, with medication errors being a significant contributor.
The development of the National Policy and Implementation Strategy on Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality in Nigeria is a significant step towards improving patient safety, enhancing healthcare quality, and building trust among citizens.
This initiative aligns with global efforts to reduce patient harm and emphasizes the pivotal role of patients in their own care, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for all Nigerians.
