World Patient Safety Day

In May 2019, all 194 World Health Organization Member States endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be marked annually on September 17. It was established to enhance the global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in healthcare safety, and promote global actions to improve patient safety and reduce patient harm. 

World Patient Safety Day 2025 takes place on September 17 and this year’s theme is “Patient safety from the start!” Every child has the right to safe, quality health care — from the very beginning. Yet, newborns and young children face higher risks due to their rapid development, evolving health needs and different disease patterns. They rely on adults to speak up and make decisions for them. Children may also face added challenges depending on their socio-economic circumstances, such as not being able to get the care they need. These factors make them more susceptible to harm if care isn’t specifically adapted to their age, size, health condition and context.  

A single safety incident can have lifelong consequences for a child’s health and development. That’s why World Patient Safety Day 2025 is dedicated to ensuring safe care for every newborn and child, with a special focus on those from birth to nine years old. Improving quality and safety is the foundation of our work – with and for – the people who receive care and those who deliver it. Everyone contributes to safer care. Together we must learn and act to create safer care and reduce all forms of healthcare harm. 

Join Healthcare Excellence Canada, the World Health Organization and others around the globe on World Patient Safety Day and every day to make care safer for all. 

Learn more about World Patient Safety Day 

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