Alireza Askari, head of the Hospital Management Center and Clinical Services Excellence of the Treatment Deputy of the Ministry of Health, stated at the World Patient Safety Day commemoration that patient safety should be considered one of the main pillars of health service delivery, emphasizing that patient safety encompasses cultures, processes, behaviors, and environments that must be managed in a way that reduces preventable risks and harms.
The Importance of Organizing Patient Safety
Askari pointed out the expansion of health and medical services and raised the necessity for serious organization in the field of patient safety, stating that service development alone cannot lead to improved quality and satisfaction. Patient safety must be considered a fundamental priority at all levels.
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He added that a significant portion of injuries and adverse events in the health service delivery process are preventable, and to prevent them, appropriate strategies, training, risk management, and process reforms must be considered.
Error Reporting and Organizational Culture
Askari emphasized that error reporting should not be for the purpose of blaming or punishing individuals but should be a tool for organizational learning and identifying the root causes of errors. With accurate data on adverse events, the ability to make evidence-based decisions and design more effective interventions will also increase.
He considered the formation of an appropriate organizational culture as a prerequisite for enhancing patient safety and stated that senior managers, hospital heads, and healthcare staff must accept patient safety as an organizational priority and institutionalize this perspective in their daily behaviors and decision-making.
Askari also pointed out the importance of safety training tailored to the conditions of each center and type of services, stating that patients and families should participate in the care process. Increasing health literacy among patients and families, continuous training of staff, and creating a safe environment are key components in forming patient-friendly hospitals.
He referred to the theme of World Patient Safety Day in 2026 titled "Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases," stating that patients with non-communicable diseases are exposed to a range of safety risks due to the lengthy treatment process and multiple visits, and safety must be considered at all stages of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care.
In conclusion, Askari emphasized that the common goal of all sectors of the health system should be that patients seeking health and medical services not only receive effective services but also have adequate safety at all stages of care, and no service should cause preventable harm to them.
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