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Patient safety general
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan has named Professor Sir Liam Donaldson as WHO Envoy for Patient Safety. The official announcement was made today at a Press Briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
In his role as WHO Envoy, Sir Liam, who served as England's Chief Medical Officer between 1998 and 2010, will help the Organization promote patient safety as a global public health priority. Specifically, Sir Liam will mobilize political support for WHO Patient Safety with health leaders around the world and with major donors, philanthropic organizations and governments for priority activities addressing patient safety issues at national and international levels. He will also advise the WHO Director-General on strategic issues in patient safety and propose strategic actions and collaborations at global level.
Sir Liam was the founder of the World Alliance for Patient Safety in 2004 and served as its Chairman. He currently holds a number of appointments including Chancellor of Newcastle University, Chairman of the National Patient Safety Agency in England, and Chair in Health Policy at Imperial College London.
We are delighted at this announcement and at the thought of continuing to work closely with Sir Liam and we wish him the best of luck in his efforts to improve patient safety around the world!
