17/09/2026
Today is World Patient Safety Day, a global public health day dedicated to raising awareness and reducing avoidable harm in healthcare settings.
This year’s theme is “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases”, supported by the slogan “Safe care for life”.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs, also commonly referred to as chronic diseases) like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions account for around 74% of all global deaths. And because managing these conditions often requires continuous, long-term and sometimes complex care across multiple settings, patients face a significantly higher risk of experiencing fragmented care, medication and prescription errors, and diagnostic delays.
It is estimated that as many as 1 in 10 patients experience harm in a healthcare setting, yet more than half of it is entirely preventable.
Safe care is a fundamental necessity and a basic right that everyone should have access to. And while health systems must become better integrated, it is just as vital that patients are empowered as active partners in their own healthcare and treatment pathways.
If you or a loved one is managing a long-term condition, remember to speak up, ask any questions you may have, and share your concerns with your medical team.
As a global healthcare community, together we can build a culture of safe and continuous care for all.
