On 24 October 2025, the World Patients Alliance (WPA) participated in the Patient Safety Conference 2025, organised by the European Patient Safety Foundation (EUPSF) in Munich, Germany. The conference brought together healthcare leaders, policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates from across Europe to discuss emerging challenges and innovative approaches to patient safety.
The conference was held under the theme “Rethinking patient safety: Evolving roles and responsibilities in a changing healthcare landscape.” Discussions focused on how healthcare systems are rapidly transforming due to digital innovation, workforce shortages, and new care models, and how patient safety strategies must evolve to anticipate risks rather than react to them.
Jolanta Bilińska, Founding Director of the World Patients Alliance, represented WPA at the conference and participated as a panelist in the session on Blood Safety, moderated by Mirka Cikkelová, General Secretary of the European Patient Safety Foundation.
The panel explored the importance of safe blood systems and patient blood management, highlighting the need for strong governance, transparency, and collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient organisations. Discussions also emphasised how improving blood safety contributes to reducing avoidable harm and strengthening trust in healthcare systems.
During the session, Jolanta highlighted the critical role of patient organisations and patient advocates in advancing patient safety, particularly in areas such as blood safety where transparency, accountability, and patient awareness are essential. She stressed that involving patients and patient organisations in safety discussions helps ensure that healthcare policies and practices reflect real patient needs and experiences.
The conference featured a range of keynote lectures, panel discussions, and interactive sessions addressing topics such as digital innovation in healthcare, home-based care safety, workforce well-being, and the importance of maintaining empathy and human-centred care in an increasingly technological healthcare environment.
Through its participation in the Patient Safety Conference 2025, WPA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening patient engagement in patient safety initiatives and working with international partners to promote safer, more transparent, and patient-centred healthcare systems.