World Patient Safety Day 2026; Septembert 17th.

FORUM: “Safe Care for people with Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)” World Patient Safety Day 2026. This year, we will raise awareness of patient safety and mobilize action to reduce avoidable harm in health care. The theme for 2026 is recognizing that people living with NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases—require continuous, lifelong care across multiple health care settings, creating numerous opportunities for safety risks and avoidable harm. Globally, approximately one in ten patients experience harm during health care, and nearly half of these events are preventable. Individuals with NCDs are particularly vulnerable due to frequent interactions with health services, complex treatment regimens, multiple medications, and transitions between levels of care. Fragmented services, diagnostic errors, medication-related harm, inadequate follow-up, and inequitable access to quality care can adversely affect health outcomes and increase the burden on health systems. In the Americas, NCDs account for approximately 6 million deaths annually and are the leading cause of mortality and disability. More than 240 million people in the Region live with at least one NCD, making delivery of safe, quality, and people-centered care a critical public health priority. Strengthening patient safety within NCD services is therefore essential to achieving universal health coverage, improving health outcomes, and advancing resilient, integrated health systems. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #17September, #worldpatientSafetyDay, #PatientSafety, #HealthForAll, #Engagingpatients.

EVENTS: On September 17th, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Patient Safety Day 2026 will beobserved. 

About the webinar: In the context of World Patient Safety Day 2026, this regional webinar, jointly organized by the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) and the Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), will bring together key stakeholders from across the Region of the Americas to exchange experiences, good practices, and lessons learned on patient safety in the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases, promoting safer, higher-quality, and people-centered care.
Target audience 

Ministries of Health; patient safety and quality teams; noncommunicable disease (NCD) program managers; primary health care professionals; academic institutions; patient organizations; development partners; and civil society organizations.

To learn more about the World Patient Safety Day 2026 campaign, its key messages, and communication materials, please visit the official campaign webpage.


Objective

• Increase awareness of patient safety risks associated with NCD care.
• Promote strategies to reduce preventable harm related to diagnosis, medication use, care transitions, and long-term management of chronic conditions.
• Highlight the role of patients, families, communities, and health workers as partners in improving safety and quality of care for people living with NCDs.
• Encourage policymakers, health system leaders, and health professionals to integrate patient safety principles into NCD-related policies, programs, and service delivery models.

 
Agenda Programme

Moderator: Silvana Luciani, Unit Chief, Noncommunicable Diseases, Violence and Injury Prevention, PAHO11:00 a.m. Opening RemarksDr. James Fitzgerald, Director, Health Systems and Services, PAHO
11:05 a.m. Highlights of global systematic review and WHO campaign for patient safety for people living with NCDsDr. Alarcos Cieza, Unit Head, Management of NCDs, WHO
11:25 a.m. Overview of patient safety in the Americas and PAHO recommendations for safe and quality health systemsDr. Gustavo Rosell, Advisor, Integrated Health Services Delivery, PAHO
11:45 a.m. Panel of country and organizational experiences with improving patient safety and quality, with a focus on people with NCDsMexico: Dr. Laura Cortés Sanabria, Directorate of Education and Quality in Health, Ministry of Health
Brazil: National Patient Safety Program
WONCA: Dr. María Pilar Astier, Working Party on Quality and Safety
International Diabetes Federation: Prof. Pablo Arias, President of the SACA region
12:15 p.m. Interactive session of questions and answers with participants
12:25 p.m. Closing remarksDr. Ernesto Báscolo, Unit Chief, Primary Health Care and Integrated Services Delivery, PAHO

How to participate
DATE: Thursday, 17 September 2026
TIME: 11.00 – 12.30 (Washington, D.C. time)
OTHER TIME ZONES: Buenos Aires, Brasilia (12.00–13.30), Mexico City (9.00–10.30), Bogota, Kingston, Lima, Panama City (10.00–11.30).
PLATFORM: ZOOM (with registration)
LANGUAGES: Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
REGISTER

Light It Orange for Patient Safety & Health System Safety!

For the first time Aotearoa Is lighting Up for World Patient Safety Day
17 September 2026 will be a little different in Aotearoa New Zealand

World Patient Safety Day is a Global Day of Recognition and action, established by the World Health Organization to bring patients, families, health workers, health leaders, policymakers and communities together around a shared goal: reducing avoidable harm in healthcare. It is marked internationally every year on 17 September.

This year, Aotearoa is not simply acknowledging the day. We are showing up!

Led by the Health Consumer Advocacy Alliance, Patient Voice Aotearoa and Kaitiaki Hauora, 2026 will see New Zealand's first nationwide coordinated, patient and whānau-led World Patient Safety Day campaign. And there is already real momentum behind it.

Health organisations, health workers, patients, whānau and communities are finding ways to take part. Some will wear orange. Others are making patient safety visible in their workplaces and communities. Organisations across the country are getting involved, and the campaign continues to grow.

Light It Orange!

On 17 September, landmarks across Aotearoa will be illuminated in orange, joining a global movement of landmarks, buildings and public spaces lighting up to demonstrate a shared commitment to safer healthcare. Auckland's Sky Tower and landmarks in Wellington, Tauranga, Whangārei and Dunedin are already confirmed to take part, with more expected to join. These lights will create powerful images, but the real story is the people behind them. People whose lives have been changed by preventable harm. Patients and whānau who have had experiences they never expected to have. Health professionals who know that safer systems are possible. And decision-makers who have the opportunity to listen and act. View PDF version hereµ

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.

World Patient Safety Day 2023; September 17th.

FORUM: "Engaging patients for patient safety.'' World Patient Safety Day 2023. The theme this year focus on the recognition of the crucial role patients, families and caregivers in the safety of health care. Evidence shows that when patients are treated as partners in their care, significant gains are made in safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes. By becoming active members of the health care team, patients can contribute to the safety of their care and that of the health care system as a whole. Patient and family engagement was embedded in the Resolution WHA72.6 – “Global action on patient safety” and the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 as main strategies for moving towards eliminating avoidable harm in health care. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #17September, #worldpatientSafetyDay, #PatientSafety, #HealthForAll, #Engagingpatients.

EVENTS: On and around September 17th, 2023, to mark World Patient Safety Day 2023, the WHO will organize a wide range of activities and will host a global virtual event. Celebrations will include lighting up of Geneva’s Jet d’Eau in orange colour. 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. Through the slogan “Elevate the voice of patients!”, WHO calls on all stakeholders to take necessary action to ensure that patients are involved in policy formulation, are represented in governance structures, are engaged in co-designing safety strategies, and are active partners in their own care. This can only be achieved by providing platforms and opportunities for diverse patients, families, and communities to raise their voice, concerns, expectations and preferences to advance safety, patient centeredness, trustworthiness, and equity.

An estimated one in every 10 patients experience harm in health care facilities, and each year, there are more than three million deaths globally due to unsafe health care. Most of the patient harm is preventable, with patient and family engagement being one of the most important strategies for reducing harm.

Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2023

1. Raise global awareness of the need for active engagement of patients and their families and caregivers in all settings and at all levels of health care to improve patient safety.
2. Engage policy-makers, health care leaders, health and care workers, patients’ organizations, civil society and other stakeholders in efforts to engage patients and families in the policies and practices for safe health care.
3. Empower patients and families to be actively involved in their own health care and in the improvement of safety of health care.
4. Advocate urgent action on patient and family engagement, aligned with the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, to be taken by all partners.