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Thank you to the Medical Service Administration and National Paediatric Hospital for hosting today’s important World Patient Safety Day rally.
“First, do no harm” is the most fundamental principle of any health care service.
As we have heard from other speakers today, newborns and young children are more susceptible to harm. A single safety incident can have lifelong consequences.
That’s why this year’s World Patient Safety Day is dedicated to ensuring safe care for every newborn and child.
Viet Nam has made great improvements in safety for patients of all ages. For example:
- Patient safety has been integrated into the National Action Plan on improving capacity in managing the quality of medical examination and treatment;
- Safety standards are part of the licensing criteria for all levels of health care facilities; and
- Reportable medical events are defined, laying the groundwork for a safer and more accountable health system.
It will be important to build on this foundation.
Five priorities would be to:
- Establish a national patient safety programme;
- Implement the Ministry of Health’s guidelines on patient safety;
- Raise public awareness about safe medicine use, and include patient representatives on hospital boards;
- Enhance patient safety education for health care workers; and
- Standardize the system for reporting patient incidents.
In all of this, Viet Nam can of course continue to count on the support of WHO.
I wish you an excellent World Patient Safety Day, as together we build a safer, healthier future for every child and adult in Viet Nam.
Xin cảm ơn.