The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries across Africa to make patient safety a priority when treating people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), warning that patients can face avoidable harm at different stages of their healthcare journey.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, made the call in a message marking the 2026 World Patient Safety Day, themed, “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases,” with the slogan, “Safe care for life!”
Janabi said people living with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory diseases often require long-term consultations, medical tests, medications, referrals and treatment. He noted that the extended nature of their care can expose patients to risks including delayed diagnosis, medication errors, harmful drug interactions, inadequate follow-up and communication failures.
According to him, NCDs were responsible for at least 43 million deaths globally in 2021 and accounted for 37 per cent of all deaths in the WHO African Region in 2019, compared with 24 per cent in 2000.
He added that nearly two-thirds of NCD-related deaths in the region occurred prematurely, compared with 41.7 per cent globally, while NCDs also remained a major contributor to long-term disability and loss of function.
Janabi explained that risks to patients could occur throughout the different stages of care, including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and self-management. These risks, he said, could become worse due to stigma, discrimination and inadequate access to essential medicines and health technologies.
He stressed that efforts to expand access to NCD services must go hand in hand with improvements in the quality and safety of healthcare delivery.
“Strong primary healthcare systems are essential for ensuring continuity of care, early identification of health problems and effective coordination between different levels of the health system,” he said.
The WHO Regional Director urged health workers to have access to practical guidelines, dependable supplies, appropriate training and supportive workplaces where mistakes can be reported and used to improve healthcare services without fear of blame.
He said countries across the African Region were expanding integrated NCD services through initiatives such as WHO PEN at the primary healthcare level and PEN-Plus at first-level referral facilities.
According to Janabi, the approaches are designed to bring diagnosis, treatment and long-term care closer to communities while improving safety through evidence-based treatment protocols, clearly defined referral systems and regular monitoring.
He also called for people living with NCDs to be more involved in efforts to improve patient safety, noting that their experiences could help healthcare providers identify weaknesses in service delivery.
“Listening to their experience, communicating clearly and involving them in decisions can prevent harm and improve treatment outcomes,” he said.
Janabi further urged healthcare professionals to follow evidence-based protocols and maintain open communication with both patients and colleagues.
He encouraged patients and their families to ask questions and speak up whenever they are uncertain or concerned about any aspect of their care.
The WHO official stressed that every person should be protected from avoidable harm throughout their health journey.
“Together, we can reduce avoidable harm and build health services that earn and sustain the trust of the people they serve,” he said.
Source: WHO
