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World Health Organization launches patient safety alliance

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, November 7, 2004

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Patient safety went global October 27 when the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety, comprised of the WHO, senior health officials, academics, and patients' groups. The group aims to advance the patient safety goal of "First do no harm" and reduce the adverse health and social consequences of healthcare around the globe.

"This global initiative will ensure that all nations work together to improve healthcare and patient safety issues that are not bound by geographical borders," says Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. "We have seen much progress in the last five years, but we have a long way to go to ensure that healthcare services provided around the world are as safe as they can be," she added, calling the problem a worldwide epidemic of medical errors.

Studies have shown that increased length of stay, litigation claims, hospital-acquired infections, lost income, disability, and medical expenses cost some countries between $6 billion and $29 billion a year.

"The situation is far more serious in developing countries, with millions of child and adult patients enduring prolonged ill-health, needless disability and even death caused by medical errors, unsafe blood transfusions, counterfeit and substandard drugs, and overall unreliable practices within poor work conditions," says Ebrahim Samba, MD, regional director of the WHO Office for Africa.

At least 50% of all medical equipment is unsafe, and that 77% of all reported cases of counterfeit and substandard drugs occur in developing countries, according to WHO.

-- Wendy Johnson
wjohnson@hcpro.com

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