World Patient Safety Day 2024; September 17th.

FORUM: "Improving diagnosis for patient safety.'' World Patient Safety Day 2024. The theme highlights the critical importance of correct and timely diagnosis in ensuring patient safety and improving health outcomes. A diagnosis identifies a patient’s health problem. To reach a diagnosis, patients and their health care teams must work together to navigate the complex and sometimes lengthy diagnostic process. It involves discussion with the patient, examination, testing and review of results before reaching the final diagnosis and treatment. Errors can occur at any stage and can have significant consequences. Delayed, incorrect or missed diagnosis can prolong illness and sometimes cause disability or even death. The WHO will continue to work with all stakeholders to prioritize diagnostic safety and adopt a multifaceted approach to strengthen systems, design safe diagnostic pathways, support health workers in making correct decisions, and engage patients throughout the entire diagnostic process. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #17September, #worldpatientSafetyDay, #PatientSafety, #HealthForAll, #Engagingpatients.

EVENTS: On and around September 17th, to mark the World Patient Safety Day 2024, the WHO will host a global virtual conference. On the day, patients and families, health workers, health care leaders, policy makers and civil society will emphasize the pivotal role of correct and timely diagnosis in improving patient safety. The Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2024 are: 1. Raise global awareness of errors in diagnosis contributing to patient harm and emphasize the pivotal role of correct, timely and safe diagnosis in improving patient safety. 2. Give prominence to diagnostic safety in patient safety policy and clinical practice at all levels of health care, aligned with the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030. 3. Foster collaboration among policy-makers, health care leaders, health workers, patient organizations, and other stakeholders in advancing correct, timely and safe diagnosis. 4. Empower patients and families to actively engage with health workers and health care leaders to improve diagnostic processes. For more information, please refer to the World Patient Safety Day 2024 Announcement; For further questions, please contact: patientsafety@who.int.

From September 15 to 21; The World Health Organization (WHO) will organize the lighting up of Geneva’s Jet d’Eau in orange colour to demonstrate the Organization's dedication to this cause. The PAHO will illuminate its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Member States and partners are invited to participate in the global campaign by pledging to implement the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm, organizing activities, holding events and lighting up iconic monuments in orange in support of medication safety.

In Americas; on September 25th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the PAHO will host a virtual seminar providing patients, decision-makers, healthcare teams, and academics the opportunity to discuss and share their insights on enhancing patient safety through more timely and accurate diagnoses. Register to participate!

STATEMENTS: Statement from the PAHO Director-general on World Patient Safety Day 2024; September 17th.