22 September 2024, Tehran, Iran – The Department of Curative Affairs at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) of the Islamic Republic of Iran marked World Patient Safety Day 2024 with an event that underscored the pivotal role of accurate and timely diagnosis in enhancing patient safety and health outcomes.
Dr Saeed Karimi, Deputy Minister for Curative Affairs, delivered an address emphasizing the significance of patient safety in health care service delivery.
Highlighting the fact that diagnosis is a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders, including patients, and quoting this year’s World Patient Day slogan – "Get it right, make it safe!" – Dr Karimi said every day should be considered patient safety day. Acknowledging the ongoing collaboration between MOHME and the World Health Organization (WHO) on this critical issue, he stressed the importance of medical ethics, continuous education and proper reporting systems for medical errors and reiterated MOHME’s and Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ commitment to upholding the principles of patient safety.
Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative and Head of Mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran, conveyed a statement through Ms Shadrokh Sirous, Health System Unit Team Lead at WHO’s Country Office. Dr Hussain pointed out that patient harm due to unsafe care is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disability worldwide. Reiterating WHO’s commitment to patient safety, he highlighted one of the guiding principles of the WHO constitution: “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”.
During the ceremony, Dr Feridoun Noohi Bezanjani, CEO of Shaheed Rajaie Cardiovascular Centre in Tehran, underlined how respectful care is a crucial component of patient safety.
During the ceremony, letters of appreciation were presented to hospitals and universities of medical sciences that had attained the highest patient safety indicator rankings in the latest accreditation report.
World Patient Safety Day serves as an opportunity to raise public awareness and foster collaboration between patients, health workers, policy-makers and health care leaders to improve patient safety. This year’s slogan, “Get it right, make it safe!”, underscores the importance of correct and timely diagnosis in ensuring patient safety and improving health outcomes.