‘Ensuring patient safety needs an effective people-centric strategy’

The task of ensuring patient safety in the healthcare sector becomes increasingly challenging as the demand for medical services continues to rise. Dr. Minu Bajpai, the Executive Director of National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, emphasized the need for healthcare administrators to work together towards optimal patient safety.

Speaking as the chief guest at a National Conference on Patient Safety, Dr. Bajpai highlighted the potential risks to patient safety as healthcare systems become more complex. With the expanding healthcare sector, the possibility of patient harm increases. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a strict patient safety environment.

To successfully implement patient safety strategies, Dr. Bajpai stressed the importance of clear policies, capacity building, and the collection of data to drive safety improvements. Skilled healthcare professionals and the active involvement of patients were also identified as crucial elements in ensuring patient safety. Dr. Bajpai specifically emphasized the importance of patient feedback as a valuable tool for identifying areas of improvement.

Supporting Dr. Bajpai’s remarks, D.K. Sharma, Medical Superintendent of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS-New Delhi, stated that patient safety is a prerequisite for strengthening healthcare systems and making progress towards universal health coverage. It is essential to prioritize patient safety to ensure efficient and effective healthcare services.

Addressing the conference remotely from the US, Dr. T.S. Ravi Kumar, President of AIIMS-M and a member of the WHO Global Patient Safety Curriculum Working Group, highlighted the significance of World Patient Safety Day. This year’s occasion sought to shift the focus to patients as the most important stakeholders in the healthcare system, rather than passive recipients of care.

In recognition of their contributions to patient safety, Dr. P. Satyanarayana, former Medical Superintendent of NIMS-Hyderabad, and the founding director of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati, were felicitated by Dr. Bajpai, AIIMS-M Director Mukesh Tripathi, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hem Chandra, and other dignitaries.

Ensuring patient safety should be a collective effort involving healthcare administrators, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and patients themselves. By working together, healthcare systems can implement effective patient safety strategies and address the growing demands of the healthcare sector. Prioritizing patient safety is essential to provide quality healthcare services and protect the well-being of patients.