Geneva, Switzerland — September 20, 2023 — In commemoration of World Patient Safety Day 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) hosted a groundbreaking Global Conference titled “Engaging Patients for Patient Safety" in Geneva, Switzerland, from September 12th to 13th. This pivotal event provided a platform for diverse stakeholders to convene, exchange experiences, and deliberate on strategies to enhance patient safety through active patient engagement. The conference aimed to facilitate collaboration, identify best practices, and pave the way for their widespread implementation across various healthcare settings.
Highlights from the Conference Program:
• Patient and Health Worker Stories: Heartfelt testimonials and experiences shared by patients and healthcare professionals underscored the significance of patient safety.
• Panel Discussions: Engaging discussions revolved around patient and family engagement interventions, featuring insights from countries, partners, and patient organizations.
• Human Rights Agenda: A panel explored the critical intersection of patient safety and human rights, emphasizing the need to advance both simultaneously.
• Patient Safety Rights Charter: Meeting participants reviewed a draft Patient Safety Rights Charter, underlining the commitment to safeguarding patients’ rights in healthcare.
• WHO Technical Resources: The conference marked the launch of essential technical resources by WHO to support patient safety initiatives worldwide.
World Patients Alliance (WPA) Leadership Participation:
WPA Director Hussain Jafri, WPA Treasurer Jolanta Bilinska, and Advisory Board Member J S Arora represented the World Patients Alliance at the conference, sharing their valuable insights. Founding Director Jolanta Bilinska also shared her compelling “Patient Experience" story, further accentuating the patient perspective.
Promising Collaborations on the Horizon:
The conference offered an unparalleled opportunity to connect and network with global leaders in patient advocacy and esteemed healthcare experts. Subsequently, WPA leadership engaged in a highly productive meeting with Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), at the ICN Headquarters. The discussions delved into exciting possibilities for partnership and collaboration in areas that hold the utmost importance for patients and healthcare worldwide.
About World Patient Safety Day:
World Patient Safety Day is an annual global event dedicated to raising awareness about patient safety and advocating for safer healthcare practices. It serves as a platform to mobilize stakeholders, healthcare organizations, patient advocates and individuals worldwide in support of patient safety initiatives.
About the World Health Organization (WHO):
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. WHO is dedicated to ensuring that people around the world attain the highest possible level of health and well-being.
