Union Health Ministry Observes World Patient Safety Day 2026, Emphasizes Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases
The event held in New Delhi aimed to strengthen patient safety and the quality of healthcare services across all stages of treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, organized 'World Patient Safety Day 2026' at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) auditorium in New Delhi. The theme for this year's event was “Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),” focusing on reinforcing patient safety and quality throughout all stages of NCD care. The event was attended by policymakers, healthcare leaders, public health experts, physicians, and representatives from various states and union territories.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Mission Director (NHM), stated that approximately 63 percent of deaths in India are caused by non-communicable diseases, making patient safety a critical component of healthcare delivery. She emphasized that patient safety is not the responsibility of a single department but must be integrated across the entire health system, particularly in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of NCDs.
Highlighting the achievements of public health services, Mrs. Patnaik noted that according to NFHS-6 data, 96 percent of vaccinations and 90.6 percent of institutional deliveries are occurring through public health facilities. She stressed the need to achieve 100 percent NQAS certification for Ayushman Arogya Mandir-Sub Health Centres (AAM-SHCs) by March 2027, followed by the preparation of a roadmap for Ayushman Arogya Mandir-Primary Health Centres (AAM-PHCs).
A 'National Patient Safety Pledge' was administered during the program, where all stakeholders expressed their commitment to ensuring safe healthcare. This was followed by a technical seminar in which experts discussed topics such as the use of digital health, safety in clinical procedures, and medication safety.
Innovations from various states were also shared during the event, including Jharkhand's screening model for geriatric diabetes and hypertension, Kerala's 'Hridayaragam' initiative, and Rajasthan's 'SETU' online referral application. Other senior officials in attendance included Mr. Sibin C., Joint Secretary (Policy), and Prof. (Dr.) Pragya Sharma, Executive Director of NHSRC. World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on September 17 following a decision by the World Health Assembly.
