Omowunmi Semudara
The Federal Government of Nigeria has improved the National Policy and Implementation Strategy on Patient Safety and Care Quality.
The government said the policy will improve the safety of all medical procedures and enhance the quality of healthcare delivery.
The Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, Kachollom Daju, announced the development of the policy at a press conference to commemorate the World Patient Safety Day 2023.
At the briefing, which was in commemoration of the 2023 World Patient Safety Day, Ms Daju said the national policy is in line with resolution 18 of the 55th World Health Assembly, which called for member states to recognise the burden of patient safety and to set up policies to manage them.
“I am delighted to inform you that the Federal Ministry of Health has just developed the first ever National Policy and Implementation Strategy on Patient Safety and Care Quality which was sent for stakeholders’ review last week Thursday and Friday,” she said.
“The policy focuses on improving patient and family engagement in healthcare, medication safety, surgical safety, infection prevention & control, safety of all medical procedures and others.”
She said the federal government is hopeful that health facilities at all levels will adopt and implement this policy.
The Permanent Secretary noted that patient safety fundamentally entails preventing errors and minimising harm to patients during the provision of healthcare services.
The permanent secretary said the day underscores the importance of patient safety in the healthcare system.
She said empowering patients to become integral members of their healthcare team is a crucial avenue to significantly enhance the safety of their care and the healthcare system as a whole.
She noted that patients can provide great contributions when they actively participate in their healthcare decisions.
“Under the banner ‘Elevate the voice of patients’, the WHO calls upon all stakeholders to take the necessary steps to ensure that patients are not just passive recipients of healthcare but active participants,” she said.
“This includes involving them in policy formulation, representation in governance structures, co-designing safety strategies, and making them partners in their care.”
She said the government is committed to providing safer and higher-quality health services to everyone in the country, strengthening the healthcare system, and building trust among citizens.
Also speaking at the event, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, said the standard of care provided is often jeopardised by a lack of coordination of quality programmes, human resource challenges, and inadequate data to guide decision-making.
Mulombo, represented by Alexander Chimbaru, deputy county representative, said key players in the health sector in Nigeria must become more familiar with patient and family engagement, which are key in ensuring patient safety.
“They also need more capacity to incorporate patient and family engagement into new or existing patient safety and overall service delivery efforts,” he said.
“Collective efforts to provide educational tools for patients and deliver programmes and services tailored to their needs and preferences can enhance patient experiences and offer beneficial impacts and better clinical and overall health outcomes.”
In his remarks, the Director of Hospital Services, Jimoh Salaudeen, urge stakeholders to take necessary action to ensure that patients are involved in policy formulation, represented in governance structures, engaged in co-designing safety strategies, and are active partners in their own care.
Mr Salaudeen said this can only be achieved by providing platforms and opportunities for diverse patients, families, and communities to raise their voices, concerns, expectations, and preferences to advance safety, patient-centeredness, trustworthiness, and equity.
