Patient safety refers to organized efforts to minimize risks and prevent unintended harm to patients during healthcare delivery. According to the OECD, unsafe care leads to over 3 million deaths annually worldwide, with 1 in 10 patients harmed during hospitalization. For India, with rising chronic diseases and an overburdened healthcare system, strengthening patient safety is a public health imperative.
Challenges to Patient Safety in India:
High Burden of Chronic Diseases:
- Long-term treatments for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and mental health disorders increase risk of errors and coordination failures.
Hospital-Associated Risks:
- Hospital-acquired infections, unsafe transfusions, medication errors, delayed diagnoses, and preventable falls remain widespread.
Systemic Weaknesses:
- Overburdened doctors and nurses, staff attrition, long working hours, and fragile safety protocols.
- Patients remain passive participants, hesitant to ask questions or report issues.
Inadequate Monitoring:
- Less than 5% of Indian hospitals are fully accredited by NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers).
Regulation and Training gaps:
- Weak enforcement of safety standards, limited pharmacovigilance, and inadequate training of medical professionals in patient safety practices.
Steps Taken:
- National Patient Safety Implementation Framework (2018–25): roadmap to integrate safety in clinical programs.
- Pharmacovigilance Networks: Monitor adverse drug reactions nationwide.
- Civil Society Initiatives:
- Patient Safety & Access Initiative of India Foundation – focus on regulatory clarity.
- Patients for Patient Safety Foundation – outreach to 14 lakh households weekly.
- WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan (2021–30): India is a signatory, aligning national reforms with global standards.
Way Forward:
- Embed Safety in Medical Education: Mandatory patient safety curriculum for doctors, nurses, paramedics.
- Expand Accreditation: Incentivize NABH accreditation across public and private hospitals.
- Empower Patients & Families: Awareness campaigns through Patient Advisory Councils (PACs) and regular sessions at grassroots level.
- Technology Integration: Electronic health records, AI-based prescription safety, barcoding in medication.
- Regulatory Strengthening: Enforce penalties for unsafe practices; establish a National Patient Safety Authority.
- Community & Civil Society Engagement: Use CSR and local governance for grassroots campaigns.
Conclusion:
Patient safety is not a luxury but a basic right under the principle of safe healthcare. A culture of transparency, accountability, and patient participation will ensure that healthcare is not only accessible but also safe, thereby building trust in India’s journey towards SDG-3.
‘+1’ Value Addition:
- As per WHO Survey (2023), only 13% of countries reported patient representatives on hospital boards. India must fill this gap through PACs.
- Every $1 invested in patient safety saves $20 by reducing litigation, hospital re-admissions, and prolonged treatment costs (OECD, 2022).
- Cloudnine Hospitals (private chain): Introduced incident reporting systemswith review panels for errors, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality rates.
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