KARACHI: Pakistan joined the global observance of World Patient Safety Day, aimed at raising awareness about the critical importance of patient safety. Various activities were organized nationwide to promote collaboration among patients, healthcare workers, policymakers, and health leaders.
This year's theme, “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety,” with the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!”, underscores the vital role of accurate and timely diagnoses in enhancing patient safety and health outcomes. A correct diagnosis is essential for identifying a patient’s health issues and ensuring they receive appropriate care and treatment.
Diagnostic errors—including delayed, incorrect, or missed diagnoses—can significantly jeopardize patient safety. These errors often stem from systemic issues, such as communication failures among healthcare workers, heavy workloads, and inadequate teamwork, as well as cognitive factors, including clinician training, experience, and susceptibility to biases, fatigue, and stress.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes its commitment to working with stakeholders to prioritize diagnostic safety. Their multifaceted approach aims to strengthen healthcare systems, design safe diagnostic pathways, support healthcare professionals in making accurate decisions, and actively engage patients throughout the diagnostic process.