17 September 2020
On 17 September 2020, WHO, international partners and all countries will celebrate the second World Patient Safety Day, established by the 72nd World Health Assembly in May 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted unprecedented pressure on health systems worldwide and is among the biggest threats to face humanity. Health systems can only function with health and care workers, and a knowledgeable, skilled and motivated health and care workforce is critical for the provision of safe care to patients.
To enhance global understanding of patient safety and to increase public engagement in the safety of health and social care, the theme for this year’s World Patient Safety Day is “Health worker safety: a priority for patient safety”.
Call for action
Working in stressful environments exacerbates risks for health and care workers. This includes being infected and contributing to outbreaks in health and long-term care settings or facilities, particularly when access or adherence to personal protective equipment and other infection prevention and control measures are limited. Stress also increases the potential for errors that may harm patients and health and care workers.
In many countries, health and care workers are facing high levels of stress and increased risk of infections, violence, accidents, stigma, illness and death. As a call for action for this year’s World Patient Safety Day, WHO urges all stakeholders to “Speak up for health worker safety!”