India Marks World Patient Safety Day 2026 With Focus on Safe NCD Care

New Delhi, September 18, 2026: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare observed World Patient Safety Day 2026 at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) in New Delhi, with a focus on strengthening safe and quality healthcare for people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, public health experts, clinicians, quality managers, development partners and representatives from States and Union Territories to discuss measures to improve patient safety across the NCD care continuum.

Addressing the gathering, Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said patient safety must be integrated across the healthcare system, particularly in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of NCDs.

Highlighting the growing health burden, Patnaik said nearly 63 per cent of all deaths in India are attributed to NCDs. She also cited public healthcare achievements, noting that 96 per cent of immunisations and 90.6 per cent of institutional deliveries, as reported under NFHS-6, are being conducted through public health facilities.

She stressed the need to improve quality and safety practices, particularly in patient referrals and continuity of care, to ensure timely access to appropriate healthcare services.

Patnaik called on States and Union Territories to accelerate quality improvement initiatives and prepare a clear roadmap for achieving 100 per cent National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification of Ayushman Aarogya Mandir–Sub Health Centres (AAM-SHCs) by March 2027.

This would be followed by certification of Ayushman Aarogya Mandir–Primary Health Centres (AAM-PHCs), with the government stressing a structured and time-bound approach to institutionalise patient safety across healthcare facilities.

The inaugural session concluded with the National Patient Safety Pledge, reaffirming the commitment of healthcare stakeholders towards safer and higher-quality care.

The technical programme featured a seminar on “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)”, covering key challenges in patient safety and approaches to reducing risks throughout NCD care.

Discussions focused on the burden of harm in NCD services, digital health solutions for patient safety, safe clinical pathways for patients with multiple conditions and medication safety.

The programme also highlighted State-level innovations in improving healthcare quality. These included Jharkhand’s comprehensive geriatric diabetic and hypertensive screening model, Kerala’s Hridhyaragam initiative for NCD prevention and control, and Rajasthan’s SETU online referral application.

India has been working to strengthen its institutional framework for healthcare quality through initiatives including the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and the National Patient Safety Implementation Framework.

The World Patient Safety Day observance provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, discuss best practices and reinforce patient safety as an integral part of healthcare delivery.

The event also underlined the government’s focus on advancing patient safety as part of Universal Health Coverage and strengthening healthcare systems through coordinated action and knowledge sharing.

Observed annually on September 17 following its adoption by the World Health Assembly, World Patient Safety Day promotes global awareness and action towards safer healthcare.

The 2026 theme, “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)”, highlights the importance of preventing avoidable harm throughout the continuum of NCD care.