What is World Patient Safety Day?

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day (WPSD), to take place annually on September 17. The primary objective of WPSD is to enhance the understanding of patient safety on a global scale. This significant day encourages stakeholders (including patients, families, health care workers, health care leaders, and policy makers) to work collaboratively towards co-designing health care policies and safety interventions that truly reflect the needs and preferences of patients and families.

WPSD 2026

World Patient Safety Day 2026 focuses on addressing one of the major health concerns affecting billions of people and accounting for 74% of deaths worldwide, namely non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Non-communicable diseases are long-term conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases that can affect people of all ages and often require ongoing care throughout life. Addressing NCDs is a global priority, reflected in the United Nations political declaration on NCDs and mental health, which calls for strengthened prevention and long-term management of NCDs. Achieving these commitments requires access to safe and quality care.

Globally, one in ten patients is harmed during health care, with around half of this harm being considered preventable. People living with NCDs are particularly vulnerable to harm due to the long-term nature of their conditions, ongoing treatment needs and frequent interactions with health systems. This repeated exposure increases the likelihood of harm over time. With some conditions, such as cancer, up to one in three patients experience adverse events during care. Many people also live with multiple chronic conditions, further increasing the risk of harm.

World Patient Safety Day 2026 is, therefore, focusing on safe care for non-communicable diseases, under the slogan ‘Safe care for life!’. It calls for multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder action to ensure that no one is harmed while receiving care for NCDs.

Objectives of WPSD 2026:

• Raise global awareness of patient safety challenges associated with NCDs across the continuum of care through a primary health care approach while considering disease-related factors, health system challenges and determinants of health that may increase the risk of harm.
• Promote the meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs and communities, in identifying safety risks and co-developing solutions with health practitioners, organizational leaders and policy-makers.
• Encourage stakeholders to integrate patient safety principles across NCD-related legislation, policies, strategies and programmes, with an emphasis on strengthening PHC-oriented health systems.
• Support health workers in strengthening patient safety practices such as safer diagnosis, medication safety and meaningful patient engagement.

Stay informed. Stay engaged. Stay safe.

Find out more and watch a short video on ‘Safe care for life!’ here: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2026#