On World Patient Safety Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to invest in safe, high-quality care for children and newborns, under the campaign theme “Patient safety from the start!”.
Unsafe care remains a major but preventable cause of child mortality and disability, affecting up to one in two children admitted to hospitals and up to nine in ten in intensive care units. The most common causes of harm include medication and diagnostic errors, healthcare-associated infections, surgical complications, and medical device incidents.
WHO highlights that ensuring paediatric safety is not only a moral imperative, but also a strategic investment in resilient health systems and a key driver of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). According to WHO estimates:
- Over 50% of patient harm is preventable;
- Improved care quality could save up to 1 million newborn lives annually;
- Engaging families in care can reduce harm by up to 15%.
The WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 identifies paediatric safety as a priority area, calling for coordinated action from:
- Governments and health leaders – to integrate paediatric safety into national health strategies;
- Health workers – to deliver safe, child-centred care;
- Parents and caregivers – to actively participate in children’s care;
- Civil society and educators – to advocate for safety and empower children.
Read the complete article here: WHO Departmental Update, 17 September 2025